Sonia visit has little for Barmer flood victims

The much awaited Congress president Sonia Gandhi8217;s visit to Barmer today brought little cheer for its flood-ravaged residents.

The much awaited Congress president Sonia Gandhi8217;s visit to Barmer today brought little cheer for its flood-ravaged residents. Neither was a relief package promised nor any concrete measure announced to mitigate the suffering of the people post flood. All that the residents got was an assurance that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would be extended to Barmer district besides a political tug of war between the BJP, the party in power in the state, and the Congress.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Sonia8217;s visit provided a perfect opportunity to the BJP to put up a protest. While it was Jalam Singh Rawlot, BJP MLA from Sheo, who put up quite a show at Malwa during Sonia8217;s visit, former BJP minister Rajendra Gehlot and BJP Yuva Morcha member Kailash Choudhry indulged in slogan shouting at Kawas.

As Sonia interacted with residents of Malwa, a sudden burst of sloganeering from a man in the crowd, criticising the Centre over inadequate flood relief, left local Congress leaders red-faced. It later turned out that the man was local BJP MLA Rawlot. Later, BJP MP from Barmer Manvendra Singh, son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, apologised to Sonia in person.

At Kawas, it turned out to be a slogan war. Standing among the victims whom Sonia was meeting, Kailash Choudhry started raising slogans like 8220;Sonia Gandhi Hai Hai. Ashok Gehlot Hai Hai8221; . Not to be left behind, Baldev Gora, president of the Congress Youth Committee Jodhpur and others countered with slogans in her favour. Asked to react, Sonia said, 8220;The Centre is concerned about the victims and is with them. As to what the state government has done for the victims, you can yourself ask the latter.8221;

Mukherjee later told the media that a relief package might be announced after discussions in Delhi.

PCC chief B.C. Kalla said the BJP leaders were not supposed to be present at the meeting with the victims. 8220;This was an immoral behaviour. Why should they be present in an area, which is being visited by Sonia. They do not even know that the compensation that is presently being paid by the state government will be refunded by the Centre. So, in a way, it is the Centre, which is giving the relief.8217;8217;

BJP state president Mahesh Sharma said whatever happened should not have happened. 8220;Things like this should not happen. However, the fact remains that the Centre has failed to provide help,8217;8217; added Sharma.