Pol parties should desist from taking mileage on floods: Sharad

Saharsa, Oct 4 (UNI) JD(U) president and former Union Minister Sharad Yadav today deplored the attempts of some political parties to derive electoral mileage from catastrophic floods in north Bihar and said any such tragedy should be faced jointly by the Centre and state government.

Mr Yadav told UNI that Bihar was facing unprecedented natural calamity following breach of Kosi embankment at Kushha in Nepal on August 18 and added that assistance from all corners was needed to face the tragedy.

''It is distressing to note that some political parties are trying to cash in on the grant of Rs 1,010 crore provided by the Centre to the state government for relief operation among flood victims,'' he said, adding that it was the constitutional obligation of the Centre to provide assistance to the state government facing natural calmity.

He also took exception to the allegations levelled against the Nitish Kumar government about doing nothing to provide succour to flood victims despite adequate assistance from the Centre and said political parties should desist from making such allegations in this hour of crisis.

''More than four lakh flood victims, taking shelter in mega relief centres, would have to live there till their homes damaged by the floods are reconstructed,'' Mr Yadav said, adding that it would take at least more than three months.

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