---

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia) : Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is a national tragedy. Even if 50 per cent of what Shri Jaswant Singh and Shri Chaman Lalji have said in this House is correct, it indicates that the Government was not only insensitive to the situation that may develop because of bad weather, but even after the tragedy, the Government was callous and so, it should be charged for dereliction of duty.

None can expect that after such a great tragedy, the Governor could remain in the capital city of Delhi. He will find no reason to go to Jammu or to Srinagar, wherever it was possible, to manage the affairs there. One should try to know from the Government what were the pressing reasons for the Governor to remain in Delhi and why did all the officer of the Kashmir not rush to the spot? Why did the people responsible in the Government of India including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister not think it proper to cancel their programmes and go to that spot? There was no other pressing problem; and I know that the Government is.