Don't play politics with relief: Sonia

BHUJ, FEB, 12.The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, today criticised the relief distribution system in quake-hit Gujarat saying ``no politics'' should be played in this humanitarian endeavour.

``The victims I met complained of bias in distribution of relief by the State Government,'' Ms. Gandhi, who visited several relief camps soon after her arrival here from Delhi, told reporters. People had complained of discriminatory and inadequate relief supply as also ``other community'' not being helped by the BJP Government in the State, she said.

Criticising the alleged attitude of the Government, Ms. Gandhi said ``all (affected by the quake) are human beings. It doesn't matter who they are or which community they belong to. This is no occasion to play politics''.

``We were told that people don't have enough tents and other essential commodities to cope with the situation,'' she said. Stating that she would talk to the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee, on her return to Delhi after the three-day trip of the Kutch region, Ms. Gandhi said ``we all have to get together in providing succour to the affected people''.

On the Congress' role in providing relief to the affected people, Ms. Gandhi said ``we are doing everything possible. But we cannot do as much as the Government can''.

Ms. Gandhi said she would ask her party-ruled State Governments to adopt some affected villages.

Asked to compare the situation between Orissa after it was hit by a super-cyclone in 1999 and Gujarat now, she said in the case of the eastern State the NDA Government ``did not accede to our request for declaring it a national calamity'' but now now it was ready to give a ``blank cheque'' to Gujarat.

Accompanied by several party leaders, including Mr. Ahmed Patel, Ms. Ambika Soni, Mr. Shankarsinh Vaghela and Mr. Wasim Ahmed, Ms. Gandhi visited Bhuj, Bhachau, Anjar and Gandhidham.

- PTI

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Section  : National
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