"Seven Ministers from Centre arrived, but not a single state minister is on the field": Himachal LoP Jairam Thakur

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 13 (ANI): Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Saturday said that during this hour of disaster, the Prime Minister himself has visited Himachal Pradesh but no ruling party leaders are among the public.

Seven Union Ministers have also arrived to share the pain of the people, but not a single minister from the state government is present on the ground, Thakur said, as per a release.
He alleged that the Chief Minister does not have time to listen to the people's suffering and runs away to Delhi whenever a natural disaster occurs.
Referring to a recent disaster in Chamba, Thakur said that instead of staying with the people, the Chief Minister went to Bihar for an election campaign with his party leader, Rahul Gandhi.

"Is this what the public has elected him to do?" he questioned.
Jairam Thakur, who reached Mandi after a four-day tour of the Chamba district on Saturday, further alleged that the Chief Minister is insensitive and unconcerned about the people's hardships.
"He is more worried about keeping his Gandhi family leaders happy. That is why he abandoned everything and ran to Bihar, even during such a major disaster, just to ensure Rahul Gandhi doesn't get angry," he said.
He added that the scale of damage from this disaster is so great that no one can fully compensate for it.
"We have been among the people since day one. We may not be in a position to give much, but we are standing with them in every sorrow and pain. Our party is reaching out to the people with relief. Can the Congress party show even one sack of ration that they have distributed to the victims?" he asked.
Jairam Thakur said that BJP leaders from across the country and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states have sent dozens of trucks of relief material, along with a relief amount of Rs 5 crore each, to the Sukhu government.
"In Chamba alone, we have distributed 50 trucks of relief. After the disaster in Seraj, I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said he would personally visit the affected areas. He came, surveyed the damage, met the affected families in Kangra, and announced Rs 1,500 crore in relief, but Congress leaders still claim no help has been given," he said.
"You can see the condition of their leaders," Thakur said.
He added that after the Prime Minister's visit, seven Union Ministers were sent to Himachal to assess the damage and help affected people.
"But not a single state minister has stepped out of the Shimla Secretariat. Is it because BJP MLAs represent these areas? This is highly discriminatory and unacceptable," he said.
He emphasised that merely standing with the people boosts morale and accelerates restoration work.
"But Congress leaders are only busy abusing the Central Government and me. If abusing me helps build houses, then do it daily. If cursing the Centre helps the state, then go ahead, but the public knows who stood by them and who couldn't step out of Shimla," he said.
Former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur visited the disaster-affected areas of Aut, Palsehad, Swakhari, Tikkar, Kathayari, Rahla, and Katola Panchayats in the Darang Assembly constituency. He noted that many homes were damaged due to landslides, and the cash crops of local orchardists were also affected.
"No minister from the government has reached these areas, which reflects extreme insensitivity," he stated.
He assured all possible help to the affected families and distributed relief materials. He also urged the state government to provide prompt and adequate assistance. Darang BJP leaders Jyoti Kapoor, Mehar Chand Bharti, and BJP district president Nihal Chand Sharma accompanied him during the visit. (ANI)