PDP hits out at PM Narendra Modi for trumpeting package to Jammu and Kashmir flood victims

SRINAGAR: Political parties in Kashmir today termed Narendra Modi's speech as "gimmickry" and "double-talk" with People's Democratic Party accusing the Prime Minister of insulting the flood victims by trumpeting its Rs 1,000 crore assistance package during the poll campaign.

"By harping on the meager Rs 1,000 crore package, we are only compromising the dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who are not seeking any doles but want to be treated at par with the citizens of any other part of the country in similar circumstances," PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said without naming the Prime Minister.

Modi, who addressed his maiden election rally here today, said he announced an assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the state as soon as floods struck in the first week of September.

He also said that when he met families of flood victims during Diwali, they said money should not be given to the state government but rather transferred directly into their accounts.

"By sounding the trumpet about paltry Rs 1,000 crore package and making it a part of the election campaign by BJP leaders is adding insult to the injury as the losses due the devastating September floods in Kashmir are thousand times more than that," Sayeed said.

The former chief minister said a renewed and resolute political effort has to be made to reach out and ensure a fair deal to the people of the state.

There is no reason why Jammu and Kashmir should be treated as a basket-case perceived to be surviving on doles despite having the right mix of brilliant entrepreneurship and a sustainable resource base, the PDP chief added.