Flood damage: Centre to announce financial package soon

Bangalore, Sep 3 (UNI) The Centre will shortly announce a special financial package for the rehabilitation of those affected by the recent floods across the country, Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced today.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting here, marking the merger of the All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) with the party, she said the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre was working out a relief package in the States, affected badly by the recent deluge.

The six districts in Karnataka, which were hit hard, would also be included in the proposed financial package, she added, assuring that the Centre would come to the rescue of both flood and drought affected people.

Denying that the UPA Government was adopting partisan attitude while extending assistance to the flood-hit States, Ms Gandhi termed such allegations as ''baseless and politically motivated''.

Referring to the unabated incidence of farmers' suicides in many States, the Congress chief said the Centre was expected to come out with a comprehensive plan to deal with the menace. PCC chiefs of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and presented a memorandum, highlighting the problems being faced by the farming community.

She said she would soon hold another round of talks with the UPA allies to arrive at a consensus on providing reservation for women in Parliament and Legislatures, before passing the Bill in Parliament.

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