Fulfil commitment to kin of 7/11 blast victims: Somaiya

Mumbai, July 9 (UNI) Alleging that the Union and the Maharashtra governments and the Railways have been dilly-dallying the process of providing relief and rehabilitation to kin of the victims, state BJP vice- president Kirit Somaiya today demanded that they should fulfil their commitment by July 11, the first anniversary of the serial train blasts that killed 187 people and injured another 890.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Somaiya said it was a pity that the Railways and the state government were passing the buck for relief and rehabilitation to 1,077 victims of the blasts.

Producing various documentary evidence such as proceedings of the state legislature and the affidavit filed by its Chief Secretary with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) at the press meet, the BJP leader alleged the state and Union governments were now lying and refusing to reimburse the expenses for medical treatment, hearing aid and artificial limbs incurred by the victims.

He said the state government and the Railways were making absurd claims about the fulfilment of all promises.

''Are the 416 victims who submitted their grievances/complaints to the HRCs, the state government and the Railways liars'' Mr Somaiya asked.

He said the Railway Claims Tribunal had so far settled the claims of 174 victims out of 1,077 and these people had received the claim amount. Two hundred and twenty five victims required hearing aids, surgeries and artificial limbs, while 200 were yet to get financial compensation. Out of 235 eligible persons, only 44 persons had been offered job by the Railways and they had joined, he added.

UNI