Advani writes to PM on relief for 7/11 survivors

New Delhi, June 12: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to fulfill his government's commitment on the relief and rehabilitation of the survivors of the Mumbai serial train blasts in July 2006.

In a letter written to Dr Singh from Mumbai after visiting two victims in the Jaslok Hospital on June 9, the senior BJP leader also demanded an ''expeditious conclusion'' of the blasts' probe.

The Union Government, Railways and the Maharshtra government should take all the necessary steps to fulfill the relief and rehabilitation commitments toward the victims, he emphasised.

''I am deeply distressed to learn that the relief and rehabilitation of the surviving victims and their families has still not been completed, even though 11 months have passed since the terrorist attack took place,'' he said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to the press here today.

Mr Advani regretted that out of the 1077 victims, only 174 had so far got compensation through the Railway Claims Tribunal.

This was in spite of the RCT seting up a Special Bench in Mumbai, he added.

Similarly, out of the 235 eligible cases for employment to the kin of the dead and severely handicapped, only 15 cases had so far been decided.

It was a matter of considerable concern that the Union Government and the Congress-NCP coalition in Maharashtra had shown extreme lethargy and a casual approach in investigating the crime, he said.

''I am told some 13 accused have been arrested, while 15 others are still on the run. I demand an expeditious conclusion of the investigation in the case, and speedy justice to the victims,'' he added.

UNI