BJP exploiting 26/11 incident for political gains: Pranab Mukherjee

The first anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks today saw leader of the opposition LK Advani expressing concern over the relief to the victims, and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee hitting back accusing the BJP of exploiting the 26/11 incident for political gains.

"You are making politics out of this. Earlier also you did it and were paid back...You will be again paid back in your own coin," an angry leader of the House, Mukherjee, remarked in the Lok Sabha.

This followed BJP leader Anant Kumar's insistence that Mukherjee should respond to Advani's concerns over the state of relief and rehabilitation of the victims of 26/11 and the blasts in suburban trains.

Amid cries of 'shame, shame' from some members, Advani had said out of 403 persons eligible for relief, only 118 have received cheques so far. While 64 of them were eligible for railway jobs, only 32 had received offers till now.

The leader of the opposition also suggested that a special cell be created in the home ministry, with an officer on special duty as its head, to look into the "problems of coordination" between 12 different agencies, including eight of the state government, involved in handling relief.

Speaker Meira Kumar sought to pacify an agitated Kumar saying it was a solemn occasion and one should maintain its solemnity. She added that Mukherjee has already said he had come specially to hear Advani and has noted what he said.

In the Rajya Sabha too, BJP attacked the government for showing "negligence" in fulfilling the promises made to the family members of those killed and injured in the 26/11 attacks.

Advani said 164 people were killed and 239 injured in the 26/11 incident, while about 1,000 were affected in the train blasts earlier.

He said some relief could reach the train blast victims only after two years and that too, after he spoke to prime minister Manmohan Singh and the victims moved the NHRC.

"A situation should not arise like a widow coming to Delhi and saying I have not received any compensation so far," he said, adding, "Whenever such a tragedy occurs, we tend to forget about it after some time."

Several people were still suffering and "some of them carrying bullets inside their bodies yet to be operated upon".

In order to prevent delays in relief, a small cell should be created in the Union home ministry, he said.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Prakash Javadekar said a cheque given to one of the beneficiaries bounced while a number of others got nothing.

The railway minister had promised a job to the dependents of all those killed at the CST but many have not got employment, he said.

Similarly the petroleum minister had promised allocation of petrol pump to the dependents of the security personnel, but later it was made clear that they would be receiving only a monthly commission of Rs25,000.

"Negligence is unwarranted, and an action taken report should be placed on the table of the House," Javadekar demanded.

Bal Apte (BJP) said urgent attention should be paid to the treatment to 12 persons, who are still carrying bullets in their bodies.