SHIMLA: The recent floods and heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have triggered a blame game between the ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP, further aggravating woes of people of the state.
As the death toll climbs to over 170 and property damages escalate, BJP Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur wasted no time in slamming the Congress government.
Accompanied by Chopal MLA Balbir Verma, Thakur accused the ruling party of indulging in politics at the expense of disaster management at a press conference he addressed here on July 29.
"While the opposition has been standing shoulder to shoulder with the government and the people, it is the Congress government that is playing politics during this hour of crisis.", he charged. 
Thakur's scathing remarks have come when the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had blamed the BJP for playing politics over the disasters in which Himachal faced losses of worth Rs 8000 Crore during the rains.
The blame game has intensified between the two parties, with each side vehemently denying any responsibility for the current catastrophe.
The opposition leader went on to criticize the Congress government's alleged mismanagement, arguing that past emergencies during BJP's rule- Covid 19 and floods- were handled more effectively.
One major point of contention has been the lack of a state-level meeting to prepare for the monsoon season and potential floods. Thakur asserted, "The government knew heavy rains were coming, yet they failed to hold a crucial meeting to make necessary arrangements. This negligence has cost lives and property."
The ongoing relief efforts also came under fire, with Thakur claiming that Congress leaders were more interested in garnering publicity than providing adequate assistance to the affected citizens.
He accused them of distributing cash haphazardly, while those in urgent need were left to suffer.
The use of army helicopters for rescue operations added fuel to the political fire. Thakur expressed his displeasure at Congress leaders allegedly taking selfies in the helicopters, turning a critical mission into a photo opportunity for personal gains.
In response to the BJP's accusations, the Congress government has maintained that it is doing its best to handle the situation. However, the blame game seems far from over, with both sides unwilling to back down.
As Himachal Pradesh continues to grapple with the aftermath of the floods, the political drama unfolds in tandem with the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. With elections on the horizon, it remains to be seen how the blame game will impact the politics in the state.
