Walkout over PC flood reply
The Opposition staged a walk out in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday expressing dissatisfaction over home minister P. Chidambaram’s reply on Central aid given to Andhra Pradesh in view of the damage to crops due to natural calamities. “We are not satisfied with the minister’s reply. Around 380 farmers have committed suicide. In
respect to them, we are walking out,” senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said as he led his party members out of the House. The entire Opposition then followed the BJP members. Earlier, responding to a “call attention notice” on the issue, Mr Chidambaram said, “We have done our best to Andhra Pradesh as per approved norms of assistance.” He assured that House that the norms for assistance, which were revised in 2009, will be revised again following which the Centre would be able to enhance assistance and aid to states. M.V. Mysura Reddy of the TDP said that the home minister’s statement is an “eyewash” and the Centre is providing step-motherly treatment to the state. He urged the government to enhance the scale of flood relief to Andhra Pradesh government for farmers from the current `6,000 per hectare to `8,000.
On allegations by Mr Naidu that Tamil Nadu had been given preference over Andhra Pradesh in granting central aid, Mr Chidambaram said that no enhanced scale of relief has been given to any state. From the NDRF, the Centre has approved `264.54 crores and `172,23 crores for damage caused due to floods and “Jal” cyclone, respectively, to Andhra Pradesh in 2010. About `400 crores was released towards relief in pursuance of the PM’s announcement, Mr Chidambaram said. Besides, SDRF amounting `381.63 crores was released, he said. Noting that the Centre will release more funds after the revised norms of assistance, Mr Chidambaram said, “Once norms are revised, we will do more.”
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