The Hindu : National : President expresses deep shock, grief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 27, 2004

National

National

President expresses deep shock, grief

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 26. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today spoke to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and officials about the relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations being carried out in the earthquake and tsunami-hit States.

Mr. Kalam has also written to the Chief Minister's of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry and the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands expressing the hope that the authorities were making all efforts in expediting rescue and relief operations. He condoled the loss of lives and expressed concern over the destruction caused, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson.

Asking the administrations of the affected-States to inform him of any specific needs, Mr. Kalam assured them all possible help from the Centre. The President was in his office the whole day today, personally monitoring the situation. He has cancelled his visit to Assam tomorrow.

The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of life and property in Southern India and elsewhere.

Sonia saddened

Distressed and saddened by the devastation, The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, has said the Central Government was taking all necessary steps for relief and rehabilitation. The Centre was extending all possible assistance to the State administrations, she said in a message.

Expressing heartfelt condolences to those who had lost their near and dear ones and sympathies to the displaced, Ms. Gandhi said a number of families had been bereaved and many more dislocated.

The Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, offered condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims of the earthquake and the subsequent tidal waves in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and several States in India.

CPI (M)'s call

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called upon the Centre to provide all necessary assistance to the State Governments to extend relief on a war footing.

In a statement, the CPI (M) said that the tidal waves have devastated human life and property in many places along the Indian coastline and many island-countries in the Indian Ocean.

The CPI (ML) has also called upon the Centre to take appropriate measures for rescue and rehabilitation on a war footing. It has advised the Government to extend every possible help to the neighbouring countries which have also been affected. Calling upon the people to come forward with every possible help for the victims, the CPI (ML) spokesperson said that its States units had rushed to the affected-areas.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary, D. Raja, has requested the Centre to coordinate the efforts to step up measures for quick rescue and relief operations.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is in touch with the Tamil Nadu Government to discuss how industry could contribute to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

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