Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling, said on Friday that he met Union home minister Amit Shah "earlier this week" and sought central aid for flood-hit Kalimpong.
“I recently met the Union home minister and updated him about the ground situation of (Bengal districts) Kalimpong, Darjeeling and the state of Sikkim (affected by the October 4 Teesta flash flood in Sikkim). He told me it is our collective responsibility... and that the Centre will do everything possible to support the affected people,” said Bista.
His assertion comes at a time when many questioned why the Centre had not yet allocated funds for flood-hit Kalimpong in Bengal when it gave Rs 44 crore to Sikkim.
In Kalimpong, 14 people died in the flood. The Bengal government gave compensation to their next-of-kin and another Rs 25 crores for restoration work. Over 500 families lost their homes in Melli, Rangpo and Teesta Bazar in the hill district.
The BJP MP, who visited some affected villages on Friday, criticised the Mamata government for not "officially announcing" the Teesta tragedy as a disaster.
