Cong struggles to catch up as BJP rallies Sangh for relief operations

via http://www.indianex press.com/ printerFriendly/ 341675.html published on August 3, 2008

AHMEDABAD :
Far more organised, the BJP and the cadre-based Sangh outfits were quick to reach the blast victims soon after the blasts tore up East Ahmedabad on Saturday, while the Congress was trying to get its act together.


Be it shifting the injured from blasts sites to hospitals, organising blood donors, logistical support or arranging funerals, the BJP ensured its men were present with the affected families. From booth workers to top leaders, all its 12 cells were pressed into action by the party.



Four BJP workers including an AMC ward president who rushed to Civil Hospital to help the injured were also injured in the twin blasts at the Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre.


More than 6,400 booths-in-charge had fanned out in the blast-affected areas to be with the victims’ families.

The Congress, on the other hand, seemingly had only a couple of senior leaders with some grassroot-level workers in tow to make its presence felt.

 
Minutes after the first couple of blasts were reported, the BJP sent more than 6,000 SMSs. The SMS read: Reach your nearest hospital. Donate blood for serial blasts victims. “We have a control room at state headquarters at Khanpur.

With a computer and couple of cell phones, the BJP is equipped to send thousands of SMSs in no time,” said Jagdish Patel, the BJP Ahmedabad president. As SMSs were taking time in getting delivered due to network congestion, the blood donation camp organised by the BJP youth wing a day before the blast, proved helpful. “We could immediately donate 231 bottles collected at the camp organised at Naranpura to various hospitals,” Patel added.

The Congress volunteers too rushed to hospitals to donate blood when informed by party leaders, but few Congressmen were seen at blast sites and affected neighbourhoods.

“The Congress volunteers donated blood at both Civil and L G Hospital,” said Congress spokesperson Jayantilal Parmar.

Pradeepsinh Jadeja, BJP MLA from Asarva, under which the Naroda blast site falls, stayed at Civil Hospital with volunteers during the crucial hours after the blasts. Jadeja was present at the Civil Hospital even when the twin blasts occurred.

Four BJP volunteers accompanying Jadeja, including Pradeep Parmar (President, Asarva ward), Raman Mali, Gulab Chauhan and councilor Raman Patni received injuries in the twin blasts at the government hospital.

When the Congress announced Rs 1-lakh relief each for the dead on Sunday, the BJP sent volunteers to physically help affected families in conducting last rites.

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