Veteran BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar appreciated the work done by the Sukhu government to tackle monsoon fury.

This comes at a time when the opposition BJP has been accusing Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government of ill-preparedness and inept handling of the disaster caused due to monsoon fury.

Toeing a different line from his party, the octogenarian BJP politician taking to social media said, “The government is coping with the disaster very well. I also congratulate the government for the manner in which thousands of tourists have been rescued from the difficult terrain.”

He said that the rain disaster in Himachal Pradesh is causing havoc everywhere in an unprecedented manner.

“I am very upset after reading today’s newspaper. Many people died in accidents. Families after families are buried under the debris. In this unprecedented disaster, I express my condolences to all the grieving families and would request all the people of Himachal Pradesh to provide maximum financial assistance to the government,” he said, in his Facebook post.

He said that due to incessant rains, the roads and mountains have become loose, so everyone should walk very carefully. No one should leave the house unnecessarily, he appealed.

Making a special request to both the government and the opposition, he said that both should cooperate, and the entire opposition should help the government.

He wished that it should appear that ‘there is neither a ruling party nor opposition in the state’ and that the entire state is fighting this calamity unitedly, he added.

A number of roads have been blocked across the state, while over 255 precious lives have been lost since 24 June and 290 persons have been injured, while 32 persons are still reported missing.

It is not the first time when Sukhu has won Shanta Kumar over. Earlier, this year, on two occasions he also backed Sukhu for asserting himself and working for the due rights of Himachal Pradesh from its neighbours.

He expressed happiness for Sukhu having raised the issue with the centre and demanding the Shanan electricity project of Mandi district’s  Jogindernagar back from Punjab and on another occasion lauded Sukhu for seeking share of Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh UT and BBMB projects as per the provisions of Punjab Reorganization Act.