A lot more needs to be done in flood-ravaged J-K: Ambika Soni

Congress today said a lot more needs to be done by the Centre in the flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir and came out in defence of the coalition government in the state for its role in rescue and relief operation saying the entire state government machinery became a victim of flood.
Party general secretary in-charge for the state Ambika Soni, however, insisted that she does not want to engage in partisan politics on a calamity like flood, though she indicated that the party feels that Centre's response could have been much quicker.
She heaped praise on Indian Army for its role in carrying out rescue and relief operation and asked the Centre to move in more trained men and machine to restore communication and network, provide food in a more organised manner and drugs.

Days after senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Digvijay Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in the flood-ravaged valley, Soni said a lot more needs to be done.
"I do not want to bring in partisan politics but I do feel a lot more needs to be done. Just giving money is not enough. Central government must contribute in much greater measure not only with financial resources but with trained men and machine to restore communication and network, provide food in a more organised manner and drugs.
"This has to be got down on war footing by agencies mobilised by the Centre as the state's apparatus has become a casualty of the flood and in waters," Soni told PTI.

The Congress, which has been attacking the government on a number of issues so far, has maintained a cautious stand on the issue, and Azad and Singh had even gone to the extent of praising the Prime Minister for his initiative.

Responding to questions on their praise of Modi, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had yesterday said,"I think we have much to say but I desist from saying anything at all in this moment of national tragedy.
"We have to join all united in our best efforts and we are fully supportive of every initiative not only of the government but the central government and the state government."

Soni also said she does not want do politics on the issue but expressed concern over the anger among the flood affected people.
"There is great anger among people. There is bound to be anger as they are suffering," she said, but defended the state government saying "the entire machinery of the state government was a victim of flood and that is why the state government was not able to make the state machinery move.