Jairam Thakur Slams Govt’s Disaster Relief Approach in Assembly Debate

Shimla, August 18— Speaking under Rule 67 in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur strongly criticised the government’s handling of disaster relief. He alleged that the administration tried to take credit for aid sent by people and even pressured citizens to hand over relief material to SDMs instead of directly reaching affected families.

Thakur said despite damages worth over ₹1,000 crore, the government released only ₹2 crore in multiple instalments and yet expected praise. He questioned the adequacy of relief measures, highlighting that many roads remain closed even after more than one and a half months.

He accused ruling party leaders of turning disaster into an “opportunity” by crossing all limits of corruption, with demands for tenders and payments even for roads cleared voluntarily by locals with their own machinery. Thakur further alleged that the government focused more on seizing institutions like the Horticulture College rather than providing meaningful aid.

While condemning delays in ex-gratia payments and lack of proper shelters for affected families, Thakur lauded several officers for their commendable work during the crisis. He urged the government to prioritise permanent solutions, transparency, and accountability in disaster response.