Rs.745-cr aid to J&K a crude joke: Congress

Is it an installment towards full package? asks Omar

Srinagar: Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Rs 745 crore package to flood victims of the Kashmir Valley, saying the relief announced by him was a "crude joke" with the people of the state and showed "casual approach" of the Centre to help them.

The Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet has submitted a Rs 44,000 crore package to the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of the people of the state affected by the floods that virtually submerged Srinagar city and south Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saif-ud-din Soz said in a statement that the relief package for sufferers of the recent devastating floods "amounted to a crude joke with the people of state."

His reaction comes a day after Modi, who was here for nearly four hours after his visit to Siachen, announced Rs 570 crore assistance for housing and another Rs 175 crore for six major hospitals in the state that were in poor condition and required immediate intervention.

The announcement had already been described by ruling National Conference and its coalition partner Congress as "big let down" and a "joke".

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that he hoped that that there will be some clarity as to whether this money is an installment towards the full package.

"We had hoped that we would get some indication with regard to the acceptance of the package that the state government has asked for but that was not forthcoming," he said.

Omar said his every effort was focused on ensuring that no one is without shelter before the onset of winter and that's why the package submitted by the state assumes significance.