Congress sets up relief panel for J-K

New Delhi, Sep 8: Congress today set up a Relief Committee for the flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir comprising the party's state unit chief Saifuddin Soz, senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and several ministers and leaders.

The jumbo panel, approved by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, has Deputy CLP leader Mohd Sharif Niaz, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and senior J-K ministers Taj Mohiuddin, Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Rigzin Zora and Majid Wani among its members.

Several ministers of state, chiefs of affiliated outfits, MLAs, MLCs, ex-MLAs, ex-MLCs and DCC presidents are on the panel, whose work will be coordinated by AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni, the in-charge of party affairs for J-K.

Gandhi has expressed anguish and deep concern for the victims of the devastating floods which has caused great loss of life and property and widely affected infrastructure in the state.

A National Conference-Congress alliance government is in power in J-K although the two parties have decided to contest upcoming Assembly polls separately in the state.

At an AICC briefing, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi rued that the early warning system for floods was not activated in J-K and neither was there any forecast about the crisis from the Central Water Commission. Meanwhile, there is talk among a section of Congress on whether Assembly elections in the state, which are due this year-end, should go ahead as per schedule in the wake of the floods.

PTI