The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday (September 12, 2023) said her party would raise the demand for a special package to rain devastation-hit Himachal Pradesh during the forthcoming special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22.
Priyanka said this during her visit to disaster-affected Shiv Bawadi, Krishnanagar and Kanlog areas of Shimla where she interacted with the people who had lost their houses as well as near and dear ones.
Interacting with the media, Priyanka emphasised the severity of the devastation triggered by torrential rain during the monsoon season and urged the Union Government to declare it a national calamity in view of the huge losses. “The situation in Himachal Pradesh is very painful and the state has suffered immense losses. The state government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is working tirelessly to provide relief to the affected people. The Union Government seems to be unable to grasp the gravity of the situation in Himachal Pradesh. The losses are so substantial that the state government cannot handle it alone. Therefore, the Union Government must rise above petty politics and help generously the people of the state during this challenging time,” she said.
She emphasised the need to rise above the political differences and called for collective efforts to aid Himachal Pradesh in this time of need. She said that though the Congress was not aware of the agenda to be brought during the special session of Parliament, the party would raise the issue during the special session and demand a relief package.
Priyanka also commended the spirit of unity and cooperation demonstrated by the people who were coming forward to contribute to cope up with the tragedy. “It was heartening to witness the selfless contributions of the people with women even donating their labour to reopen the roads in Kullu district,” she said.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Congress state president and Mandi MP Pratibha Singh, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, political adviser to the Chief Minister Sunil Bittu, principal media adviser to Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, MLA Harish Janartha, Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
