Cong seeks PM, Sonia's intervention for Raj five victims in Kolkata

Jaipur, Jan 17 (UNI) The Congress in Rajasthan today sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party supremo Sonia Gandhi for the relief and rehabilitation package of about 3000 Rajasthani traders, whose shops were gutted in devastating Barrabazar fire in Kolkata.

Congress state working president Paras Ram Mordia, who had visited Kolkata to meet the victims along with a five-member delegation, told reporters here the fire had caused a loss of over Rs 1000 crore to the shopkeepers. ''They have lost everything including their business premises.'' He said the delegation had met the victims to take the first hand information on the directives of AICC.

''We visited the site and also met West Bengal Governor G K Gandhi to seek justice for the victims,''he added.

Mr Mordia said the victims were expecting due compensation, their rehabilitation on the same premises and provision of temporary locations for their business till the reconstruction of the damaged buildings.

He said the delegation had made submission before the state Governor in favour of traders demands and would now meet the Prime Minister and Ms Gandhi to seek their intervention for grant of relief and rehabilitation package.

The party delegation also demanded a CBI probe into the circumstances that caused the fire, which appeared to be a gross ''negligence'' on the part of the authorities in putting out the blaze.

Besides Mr Mordia, the delegation comprised sitting party MLAs Srigopal Baheti and Mahadev Singh Khandela, party state General Secretary and former MLA Rajendra Pareek and former Bikaner Zila Pramukh Bhawani Shankar Sharma.

UNI SS HS VC1953