Jammu, January 01, 2025:Senior BJP leader and MLA Sham Lal Sharma, along with BJP National Secretary and MLA Dr. Narinder Singh and party MLAs Surjit Singh Salathia, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, Ch. Vikram Randhawa, Arvind Gupta, and BJP Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar here on Wednesday.
Addressing the media, Sham Lal Sharma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government for approving a ₹1,430 crore Special Central Assistance package for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to restore public infrastructure damaged by flash floods and incessant rains that hit the Jammu region on August 24 and thereafter. He said the disaster caused extensive damage across Jammu, Samba, Reasi, Kishtwar and other affected districts, severely impacting roads, bridges, water supply schemes, power infrastructure, educational institutions and health facilities.
Sharma said that following the disaster, the BJP mobilised teams from senior leadership to grassroots workers to assess losses on the ground. Based on these assessments, a detailed damage report was prepared and submitted to the Government of India. He added that the Union Home Minister subsequently visited the affected areas, held high-level meetings with the Lieutenant Governor and senior officials, and was briefed by BJP MLAs on the scale of destruction.
He further stated that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, a committee of senior Union Ministers headed by the Union Home Minister was constituted to expedite relief measures. A delegation of four MPs and seven BJP MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir later met central leaders in New Delhi, including BJP National President J.P. Nadda and the Union Finance Minister, following which the special assistance package was sanctioned.
Sharma clarified that the assistance is separate from routine disaster relief and regular budgetary allocations, and is a targeted capital investment for recovery and mitigation. Of the total amount, ₹944 crore has already been released as the first instalment under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), out of which ₹758 crore has been spent on project execution so far. He said 222 major projects across 27 government departments have been approved, with completion timelines set between January and August 2026, and the utilisation of funds is being monitored centrally with daily oversight by the Finance Department.
Issuing a strong warning, Sham Lal Sharma cautioned the NC-led government against any attempt to misuse, divert or redistribute the funds meant exclusively for disaster-affected areas of the Jammu region. He alleged that earlier, out of ₹209 crore released under the SDRF, the NC government distributed ₹10 crore each to all districts, including those not affected by the disaster, while ignoring the worst-hit areas. He termed this an act of misappropriation and discrimination against severely affected districts such as Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi and parts of Rajouri.
Holding Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also heads the Finance and Relief & Rehabilitation departments, responsible, Sharma asserted that the BJP would not tolerate any repeat of such practices. “Every rupee of this ₹1,430 crore belongs to the disaster-hit people of Jammu. Any attempt to divert these funds will be strongly opposed and exposed,” he said.
Other BJP MLAs present reiterated that the Modi-led government has once again demonstrated its commitment to Jammu and Kashmir, and said the BJP would continue to act as a vigilant watchdog to ensure transparent and proper utilisation of relief funds for the affected people.
