Kedarnath Pilgrims : Naidu's anguish over govt apathy

TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday expressed anguish over the treatment meted out to the pilgrims rescued from Uttarakhand during their transit halt at AP Bhavan before they were shifted to their respective places.

Addressing the press here, he said the pilgrims had undergone horrifying experiences during their stay at the government's official guest house. The heart-rending scenes like the victims sleeping on the floors, craving for medical treatment and starved of water and food reflected the apathy of the state and central governments in providing rehabilitation to them. He described the plight of stranded pilgrims in Uttarakhand.

Stating that his party has taken up relief work for the pilgrims by arranging special flights and buses to reach them to their destinations on 'humanitarian grounds', Naidu also faulted Uttarakhand government for the indifference shown towards Telugu pilgrims during their evacuation from submerged areas. He was also forced to meet the Chief Minister Vijaya Bahuguna at the latter's residence when he was denied permission to met the CM and discussed about rehabilitation provided.

It was his party that took initiative in shifting the pilgrims on war-footing by deploying his party leaders, MLAs and MPs to the affected areas, he said and added the government's delay in responding to the havoc left many pilgrims fell sick.