Modi govt contradicts Kangana Ranaut’s claims on disaster relief for Himachal in 2023
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Contrary to newly elected BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut’s claims that the Narendra Modi government provided Rs 1,800 crore to rain disaster-hit Himachal Pradesh in 2023 alone, the Union Government informed Parliament on Thursday (August 8, 2024) that the hill state got Rs 873 crore flood relief over two financial years from 2022-24.
Actor-turned-politician Kangana, who visited cloudburst-hit areas in Shimla district’s Samej (Rampur) and Kullu’s Baghipul (Nirmand) on Tuesday, criticised the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government for its “poor handling” of disaster relief funds.
Addressing the media, Kangana maintained that following the massive rain devastation in 2023, a “relief package of Rs 1,800 crore was sent from the Centre for Himachal”. “But the current government did not distribute it to affected people. This is an inhuman act of the state government. They have no compassion or feeling in their hearts. People are building bridges with their own hands,” she alleged.
Kangana questioned the state government’s commitment to the affected residents, stating, “Last time, the displaced people were promised Rs 7 lakh each from the funds received from the Centre. Did they get the Rs 7 lakh? The villagers are building bridges with their own hands.” She expressed confidence that Prime Minister Modi would again come to the rescue of the people of Himachal.
“PM Narendra Modi will definitely send a package. He had sent a package of Rs 1,800 crore last time and he will send it now too and it will go to Sukhu ji. I would say that an investigation should be started on whether the displaced people will get that money or not. Whatever corruption has started here should be curbed,” she alleged.
Meanwhile, the Centre told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that it had granted the highest allocation to Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Assam under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in the last two years, 2022-2024. The funds were given for relief and rehabilitation of people affected in natural disasters.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said while Rs 941 crore was approved by the Centre’s high-level committee for Karnataka, Rs 873 crore and Rs 594 crore were approved for Himachal Pradesh and Assam for floods and landslides in 2022-24. In a written reply, he said Rs 939 crore was released to Karnataka from the NDRF, Rs 812 crore to Himachal and Rs 160 crore to Assam in the last two years.
