Vaghela blames Gujarat govt for floods

Union textile minister Shankarsinh Vaghela has said that the floods in Gujarat are not a natural calamity but are man-made disaster. He held the state government responsible for the devastation.

Vaghela was addressing mediapersons after meeting representatives of the beleaguered textile industry in the state. "Extensive damage and loss of lives in southern, central and northern parts of the state was caused due to water logging. There was a clear lack of preparedness by the state government. Thus it would not be right to term the floods as natural calamity," Vaghela said.

"The state government has been making big claims about its disaster management preparedness. Disaster management requires people with high IQ and efficiency level, people whose mind responds quickly to disasters. The rains have washed away all those tall claims and shown that the right people are not there at the top," he said.

"The textile industry has suffered huge losses. I have got a fair idea about the extent of losses due to rains. However, I have sought a detailed report about the losses from the chamber, so that I can raise the issue with the finance minister and the prime minister for proper redressal," he said.

At the same time, the industry should also make representations at the proper level in the government."

Vaghela held Pakistan responsible for yesterday's militant attack in Ayodhya, and said that the attack was probably aimed at helping BJP president L K Advani, who was been under fire due to his controversial remarks on Babri demolition and Mohammed Ali Jinnah during his Pakistan visit, improve his image. He also said that the attack would not affect the on-going peace process with Pakistan.

Vaghela also said that the so-called leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) do not have any work other than making rubbish statements, and asked them to refrain from inciting communal tension by raking up the Ayodhya attack issue.

Earlier, addressing some textile businessmen, Vaghela called for steps to curb overproduction. "Overproduction is the bane of any industry and needs to be curbed. The textile industry is itself responsible for falling into recession," he said.

Later in the day, Vaghela also paid a visit to Pandesara and some other flood-affected areas of Surat.