J&K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh says his comment on rehabilitation package was taken out of context

JAMMU: A day after being attacked by PDP leader and ministerial colleague Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today insisted that he had never said that Rs 3,600 crore was the final rehabilitation package for the victims of last year's floods in Kashmir.

"I am being quoted out of context on relief for flood victims issue. I never quoted the figure of Rs 3,600 crore as final settlement for flood relief," said Singh, a BJP leader from Jammu.

He said he had told the correspondent of a local daily in an interview that another instalment of Rs 1,500 crore as flood relief was being released.

Singh was reportedly quoted as saying that "As per the government figures, it (Rs 3600 crore) is sufficient" for rehabilitation of flood victims.

Bukhari had yesterday taken strong objection to Singh's comments that Rs 3,600 crore is sufficient for rehabilitation of flood victims, saying he should desist from making "irresponsible statements that create confusion among flood victims".

State Congress committee chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir had said "the government is playing a cruel joke with the flood- affected people".

CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami had also blamed the state government's "tardy rehabilitation and administrative inertia" for the miseries of flood affected people.

Denouncing Singh's remarks, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), too, had asked the chief minister to come clear on the issue.