Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who visited the Shiv Temple at Summer Hill in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla, which was hit by a massive landslide on August 14, claiming at least 19 lives, said that the people in the state have suffered great loss due to landslides in the state and the Centre should declare it a national disaster. She said that the matter will be raised in Parliament during the special session.
"People have suffered a great loss. We said yesterday too that everyone has to face this together. If the Centre declares this a national disaster, it will help the state a lot. Pratibha Singh mentioned yesterday that she would like to take it up in Parliament. We don't know what this special session will be about or whether they will allow these issues to come up. But we were discussing that even if that doesn't happen, representation should go to the Central Government, and we will all put our strength into that and try to convince them that they must declare it a national disaster," Gandhi said.
We Don't Want To Do Politics, Says Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi said that this is not the time for politics and the issue should not be politicised. She further stated that everyone should come together to help. “This is a time when we don't want to do politics, and I believe no one else does either. This is not the time to see whether there is a Congress government in the state or a BJP government. This matter should not be politicised, and everyone should come together to help.”
The Congress leader said that Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced the ways in which the state government will be helping the victims, and a list of victims has been prepared to whom compensation has to be given. She also said that the Centre is not able to understand the magnitude of the loss suffered by the state due to the landslides.
“People have suffered severe losses, many houses were washed away, and even the Leh-Manali national highway has been washed away. The sentiments of the state associated with the incident are an inspiration for the nation. Wherever I was going, I saw women trying to extend help in constructing roads. I also saw some small businessmen giving cheques and monetary assistance to help those in need despite suffering losses themselves. The state government kept the sentiments of the people in consideration while making the efforts. The Chief Minister has announced the ways in which the state government will be helping the victims, and a list of victims has been prepared to whom compensation has to be given,” Gandhi said.
“I think the central government is not able to understand the magnitude of the loss suffered by the state. Yesterday, I saw the Centre reduce import duty on apples being imported from America. For the businessmen, especially in Shimla, who are buying apples, the government has reduced the price of those, and as a result, the farmers in Himachal Pradesh are getting less money for apples,” she added.
Gandhi also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should look into this matter and see how people can be helped. “Rather than helping the farmers who suffered losses due to the landslides in Himachal, the Centre is helping the farmers of America. We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into this matter and see how the people in the state can be helped,” she said.