Big allegation by Cong. Says PM, HM has no time for people of flood-ravaged Sikkim who are crying for help

Even as the Northeastern state of Sikkim is ‘crying for help’ as the devastating floods have claimed the lives of at least 56 people and left over 25,000 people homeless, the ‘Centre has kept its eyes and ears shut and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have no time to visit the flood-ravaged state,’ said Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Accusing the Central Government of ignoring Sikkim, which continues to suffer from catastrophic floods, and Manipur, which has been boiling for more than five months now, P Chidambaram asked the Central Government when will it realize that it is a government for all the states.

He further stated that the amount of Rs 44.8 crore released by the Centre to the Sikkim government as aid in the aftermath of the floods ‘has added humiliation to neglect’.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Congress leader wrote, “If Manipur is burning, Sikkim has been devastated by cloudburst and flooding. Both are small north eastern states that are crying for help. The eyes and ears of the central government are tightly shut. Neither the Hon’ble PM or the Hon’ble HM has found the time to visit Sikkim and offer the people solace and succour. The sum offered to Sikkim, Rs 44 crore, has added humiliation to neglect. When will the central government realize that it is a government for all the states?”

Earlier, former Minister and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) leader Tshering Wangdi Lepcha said that the amount of Rs 44.8 crore released by the Centre to the Sikkim government will not be of enough help to tide over the crisis.

It may be noted that when the opposition Congress slammed the Central Government for not paying attention to flood-hit Sikkim, earlier this week, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said that the Central government is helping the state.

On October 7, CM Tamang expressed gratitude for the support from the Government of India, which provided logistics, army assistance, and financial aid for immediate relief. 

CM Tamang said that President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi had also called to check on the situation. Moreover, a technical team would be set up by the Sikkim government, and the Ministry of Home Affairs would assess the damage to government and civil properties.

Manipur has been on the boil since May 3, after a violent clash broke out between two communities, while the Himalayan state, Sikkim is experiencing flash floods caused by the rising water of the Teesta river after the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred at the Lhonak Lake in the Chungthang area of North Sikkim on October 4.

The death toll from the flash flood in Sikkim has risen to 56 as of today, while over 150 people including Indian Army personnel remain missing. According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), the flash flood has affected around 25,000 people.

Evacuation and rescue operation is underway in the flood-ravaged state. Indian Army is providing relief and shelter to the people stuck due to flash floods.

Also Read: Rs 44 cr not enough: SDF leader on Centre’s help to flood-ravaged Sikkim