New Delhi: The Central government on Monday directed the Uttarakhand government not to allow any other state or agency to unilaterally initiate rescue efforts in the flood and landslide-hit regions of the state, according to sources.
Sources said that all rescue efforts in the state are to be routed through the Uttarakhand government. The rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the Army, IAF, ITBP, Navy divers and NDRF.
Politics came into play over Uttarakhand floods on Saturday after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi ignored suggestions given by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that chief ministers should not visit the hill state as it would hamper rescue operations. Modi undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Uttarakhand on Saturday and also offered help to the state government in reconstructing the flood-ravaged Kedarnath shrine into one of the most modern temples in the country.
Modi also insisted that the situation in Uttarakhand should be declared a national calamity. Shinde, however, opposed the suggestion saying, "What is the gain in declaring it as a national calamity? It is a natural calamity and we are doing our best to tackle the disaster and allot the best resources for rescue and rehabilitation."
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari also hit out at Modi on Sunday. Dismissing reports that the Gujarat Chief Minister had helped in evacuation of thousands of people from flood-hit Uttarakhand, Tewari said such claims reflected "rank opportunism" to try and "milk a tragedy for political reasons".
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is also slated to visit the flood and landslide-hit regions of the state. Congress leader Renuka Choudhary, however, said that Rahul Gandhi's visit to Uttarakhand is not going there not as a VIP but as a worker.
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