Modi targeted again by Cong, CPI-M, Relief trip for photo-ops

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was today at the receiving end of fresh jibes from rivals over relief efforts in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand with Congress saying politicians are visiting the state for 'photo ops'.

CPI(M) termed as 'very unfortunate and sad' political leaders claiming publicity over the relief work.

The response by Congress and CPI-M came even as Uttarakhand government decided not to allow any state to make unilateral efforts to evacuate its people stranded in the hill state in the midst of war of words over claims that 15,000 Gujaratis were rescued at Modi's initiative. Congress yesterday said Modi wants to become a "Rambo".

'Credit must go to the jawans. The others who went there for a photo opportunity have nothing to do with the rescue and I am afraid they are belittling the work done by the jawans. Let the jawans do their job,' Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said all efforts should be made to mount rescue and relief operations.

'It is very unfortunate and sad. Relief efforts should not be hampered by such publicity-seeking (by political leaders),' Yechury told reporters.

'We feel that any VIP movement in the affected areas will hamper relief work and we consciously decided not to go to these areas now,' Yechury said.

A senior official said there has been confusion after some state governments took separate initiatives to rescue their own people.

'From now onwards, there will be single coordination channel which will be monitored by the Uttarakhand government for rescue operations,' the official said.

Uttarakhand government has made it clear that if any state government wants to send helicopters or other mode of transport, they should send them to the state government which will make its best efforts to rescue the people of that state.

'But no more unilateral initiative by any state government. We do not want any confusion,' the official said.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde advised VIPs not to visit Uttarakhand, saying such visits created difficulties in relief and rescue operations.

'We advise all VIPs not to visit Uttarakhand now. All agencies are engaged in relief and rescue efforts...Such visits hamper their works,' he told reporters.

The Home Minister said if any VIP does not listen to the advise, the person concerned may not be given landing permission in Uttarakhand.