Himachal Pradesh Assembly adopts resolution demanding Centre to declare calamity "national disaster"

Sep 20, 2023

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 20 : The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the Union government to declare destruction caused by recent heavy rains in the state as a "national disaster."
The Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu moved the resolution Under rule 102 on the first day of the monsoon session of the Assembly for discussion.
The resolution was passed with a voice vote in the Assembly on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister said speaking to reporters in Shimla that "The Opposition is just playing politics on the issue of disaster." 
"If the opposition says that they did not denounce the resolution but at the same time they did not support it. We have passed a resolution for the relief package of Rs 12,000 crore," said Sukhu.
The leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has alleged the state Congress government and leadership just politicise the disaster.
"We are not against this resolution but we have asked what benefit will the state get after it is declared a national disaster. Not even a single Congress legislator has thanked the Union government for support to Himachal Pradesh during the disaster. They are just playing politics to gain benefits in the upcoming 2024 parliament polls," said Jai Ram Thakur.
Earlier on September 18, the Himachal Pradesh government moved a resolution in the state assembly recommending the central government to declare the destructions caused by heavy rains in the state during the monsoon season this year a “national disaster.”
According to state officials, Himachal Pradesh has incurred a loss of Rs. 12000 crores in the rain-induced calamities during the monsoon this year so far.