Dehradun, Aug. 31 -- Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat on Saturday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over its handling of the ongoing disasters, alleging that ministers were more focused on protecting their posts than providing relief to affected people. He made the remarks at a time when there is speculation on the cabinet rejig and expansion, with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visiting Delhi for talks with party leaders. "On one hand, cloudbursts are taking place in some or the other part of the state every day. People are getting buried under debris, houses are being destroyed, there is massive loss of life and property, and roads are collapsing. Even yesterday, cloudbursts in Basukedar (Rudraprayag), Budha Kedar (Tehri), Kapkot (Bageshwar) and other areas caused huge destruction," Rawat said. "At such a time, the government and its ministers should have been among the people, leading disaster management efforts from the front. Instead, the ruling party leaders are engaged in a race for power. Some are dreaming of becoming chief minister, some are rushing to Delhi to save their ministerial posts, and others to grab one," he alleged. Rawat further said, "If a party lacks sensitivity, how can it understand the pain of a Himalayan state? They can only satisfy their hunger for power, but they cannot provide solace to the grieving people." Garima Mehra Dasauni, chief spokesperson for the state Congress, said, "If you look at the northeastern states with similar geographical challenges, or Himachal Pradesh, there are separate budgetary provisions for disaster management at the Centre. Why is Uttarakhand being treated with such a step-motherly attitude?" she said. Dasauni alleged that the "state government made a mockery of relief by first distributing cheques of Rs.5,000 to the affected people and later raising the compensation to Rs.5 lakh". "Is that it? For someone whose house and family have been destroyed, whose livelihood has been wiped out?" she said. She further alleged that disaster management requires teamwork, but in the state, "neither the MPs, nor ministers or MLAs are being involved. The ruling BJP accused the Congress of indulging in politics over the issue of disasters."It is shameful that Congress is doing politics on such a sensitive issue. The state is facing disasters with courage and unity. It would have been better if their leader had expressed a few words of sympathy, let alone extending any assistance," state BJP media in charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said. He added that CM Dhami has been on the ground wherever disasters have occurred in the state, "sharing the pain of the affected people."...