‘Do not politicise disaster’: Dilip Kumar Sharma’s strong appeal
“Let Humanity Lead, Not Politics”: BJP’s call amid crisis
“Politics can wait”: Dilip Sharma urges focus on relief & rehabilitation
“Do Not Politicise a Disaster , There Will Be Ample Time for Politics Later”: BJP Media Panelist Dilip Kumar Sharma
Dalim Phukan.
Guwahati, August 10: “At this hour of unprecedented distress, the foremost priority must be relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. Politics can wait; there will be ample time for politics later.” This was stated by Dilip Kumar Sharma, Media Panelist, Bharatiya Janata Party, Assam Pradesh, during a formal interaction with the media on Saturdayat the party’s state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, Basistha, Guwahati.
Addressing the media, Sharma said that following the devastating natural calamity that struck four districts of Upper Assam, the government has been making every possible effort to ensure that the entire chain of response,from rescue and relief to rehabilitation,is carried out with urgency, efficiency and sensitivity. He stated that financial assistance has already been credited to the bank accounts of flood-affected families to provide immediate relief and enable them to return to their homes at the earliest possible opportunity.
He further stated that the government has now commenced a comprehensive assessment of the permanent damage so that affected families can receive appropriate financial assistance for rehabilitation and rebuild their homes and lives. Among the measures undertaken, he highlighted the six-month moratorium on repayment of bank loans, directions to insurance companies to expedite settlement of claims, and allocation of funds for the immediate repair of damaged schools and Naamghars, besides other necessary relief and restoration measures.
Sharma said that Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has personally visited several flood-affected areas over the past few days, interacted directly with distressed citizens and assured them of every possible assistance. He asserted that, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the Assam Government is mounting a war-footing response to restore normalcy and help affected families rebuild their lives with dignity.
However, Sharma expressed concern that while the government is working relentlessly for the affected population, certain Opposition parties and a few individuals seeking political visibility appear to be attempting to exploit the tragedy to mislead the public and derive political mileage from the disaster. He criticised what he described as indiscriminate criticism of the government at a time when the collective focus should remain firmly centred on saving lives, providing relief and restoring normalcy.
He further remarked that the objective of such political actors should not be to exploit human suffering for political advantage. “The people affected by this catastrophe need assistance, not political confrontation,” Sharma said, emphasising that the present crisis demands a humanitarian response transcending political differences.
Sharma reiterated that the BJP and the Assam Government have been working above partisan politics during this hour of crisis. Party workers, he said, are actively assisting affected families in ensuring that every eligible person receives the relief and assistance due to them, while the administration continues its round-the-clock efforts on the ground.
He appealed to all political parties, organisations and citizens to extend their cooperation to the administration rather than obstructing or politicising relief operations. “We will have sufficient time for politics later. Political statements at this moment will only deepen the emotional burden of those already devastated by the floods,” he said.
Concluding his interaction, Sharma urged everyone to rise above political considerations and come together with a genuine spirit of humanity and solidarity. “Only when we join hands and stand together with a truly humanitarian approach can we bring hope back to the faces of those devastated by this calamity,” he said.
