Shimla, Sept. 3 -- Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed great apprehension over the extensive damage caused by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and insisted the Centre declare the state a "national disaster zone" immediately.
The party has sought urgent relief assistance of at least Rs 5,000 crore from the union government to facilitate extensive aid and rehabilitation efforts.
In a statement issued by State Secretary Sanjay Chauhan, the CPM noted that financial instability of Himachal makes it unfeasible for the state government to recover from the crisis self-sufficiently.
The party urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to convene an all-party meeting and summon all political and social organisations to work collective...