New Delhi: As unseasonal rain and thunderstorm claimed the lives of at least 37 people in states of Gujarat, Manipur, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, a political slugfest broke out between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
Concerned over the loss of lives in Gujarat, PM Modi expressed condolences on Twitter and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased.
However, Nath reacted to this and said that despite people being killed due to inclement weather in other states as well, the PM had only shown concern for Gujarat.
“Modiji, you are the prime minister of the country and not Gujarat. At least 10 people have been killed in MP also. But your sensitivity is limited to Gujarat only?,” Nath wrote in a tweet. “Though BJP is not the ruling party here, but people do live here too,” he wrote further.
मोदी जी , आप देश के पीएम ना कि गुजरात के। एमपी में भी बेमौसम बारिश व तूफ़ान के कारण आकाशीय बिजली गिरने से 10 से अधिक लोगों की मौत हुई है।लेकिन आपकी संवेदनाएँ सिर्फ़ गुजरात तक सीमित ? भले यहाँ आपकी पार्टी की सरकार नहीं है लेकिन लोग यहाँ भी बस्ते है। — Office Of Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) April 17, 2019
The sudden rains have also claimed the lives of at least nine people in Rajasthan and 12 people in Madhya Pradesh. After a gap of an hour and a half, the Prime Minister expressed grief over loss of lives in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Manipur as well and announced compensation for the kin of the dead and the injured in these states too.
PM @narendramodi has expressed grief at the loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country. The government is doing its best to provide all possible assistance to those affected. The situation is being monitored closely. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 17, 2019
Meanwhile, the BJP accused Kamal Nath of doing politics over the loss caused by overnight rains and storm. BJP media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni hit out at Nath, saying he is well aware of the procedure that the state government has to first inform the Centre about the damage in such a natural tragedy to get relief but instead of doing so, he was tweeting and doing politics.
"Instead of informing the Centre, he chose to do politics over the tragedy," Baluni said.
Unseasonal rain and dust storm claimed 10 lives in various parts of Gujarat, while several others were injured.
Rain and dust storm were reported from areas including districts in North Gujarat and Saurashtra region, on Tuesday afternoon, they said.
Also, a portion of a tent erected for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Himmatnagar town of North Gujarat was also damaged in the dust storm, an official earlier said.
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