This Article is From Nov 14, 2019

There Should Be No Politics Over Cyclone Bulbul Relief Work: Bengal Governor

Jagdeep Dhankhar said he would assess the situation in the cyclone-hit areas before deciding whether to visit those places or not.

There Should Be No Politics Over Cyclone Bulbul Relief Work: Bengal Governor

Jagdeep Dhankhar urged people not to do politics over Cyclone Bulbul relief work

Kolkata:

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday shared views of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that there should not be any politics over distribution of relief material to people affected by cyclone Bulbul.

Mr Dhankhar said he would assess the situation in the cyclone-hit areas before deciding whether to visit those places or not.

"All agencies are working... (I think) time is (that) agencies must come forward, government must come forward and NGOs also must come forward for those who have (suffered) loss of property or life... I am all for it. I do not want any politics," Mr Dhankhar told reporters.

"I urge people not to do politics. The moment you put politics into governance it will somewhere damage the fabric of democracy," he added.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after conducting aerial survey of the storm-ravaged areas of the state Namkhana and Bakkhali on Monday and Basirhat on Wednesday- urged people to stay positive and not to indulge in politics while providing help to those affected by the cyclone.

"Nobody should do politics over distribution of relief material. Relief material should be distributed irrespective of political identities," Ms Banerjee had said at the administrative review meeting at Basirhat on Wednesday.

It must be mentioned that Mr Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the state government over several issues, had lauded the chief minister's role in leading from the front as the state government and other central agencies worked in synergy to minimise the impact of cyclone Bulbul.

About visiting the cyclone affected areas of the state, Mr Dhankhar said, "Whether, I will visit cyclone Bulbul-affected parts, I will decide after accessing the situation... if my visit is required (putting emphasis) I will go."

At least nine people have lost their lives in the calamity - five from North 24 Parganas, three from South 24 Parganas and one from Purba Midnapore - while seven fishermen were still missing, Banerjee had said during an administrative review meeting held in Basirhat on Wednesday.

As many as six lakh people have been affected and over five lakh houses damaged due to the cyclone, which made landfall late on Saturday between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh.

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