Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Senior BJP leader and MLA Sham Lal Sharma, accompanied by BJP National Secretary & MLA Dr. Narinder Singh, MLAs Surjit Singh Salathia, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, Ch. Vikram Randhawa, Arvind Gupta, and BJP Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
While addressing the media, Sham Lal Sharma expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government for approving a Special Central Assistance package of ₹1,430 crore for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to restore public infrastructure damaged during the devastating flash floods and incessant rains that struck the Jammu region on 24 August, and thereafter.
Sham Lal Sharma said that the disaster caused unprecedented destruction across Jammu, Samba, Reasi, Kishtwar and other severely affected areas, leading to massive losses of roads, bridges, water supply systems, power infrastructure, educational institutions, health facilities and other essential public assets.
He said that immediately after the disaster, the BJP constituted teams from senior leadership to ground-level workers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of damages. Based on this, a detailed and factual damage report was prepared and submitted to the Government of India. Subsequently, the Union Home Minister visited the affected areas, held high-level meetings with the LG and senior officers, and BJP MLAs personally apprised him of the gravity of losses suffered by the people.
Sham Lal Sharma said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a committee of senior Union Ministers headed by the Union Home Minister was constituted to fast-track relief. A delegation comprising 4 MPs and 7 MLAs from J&K BJP, met the central leadership in New Delhi, including BJP National President JP Nadda and the Union Finance Minister, following which the ₹1,430 crore Special Central Assistance package was sanctioned.
He informed that this assistance is separate from the regular Union Budget and disaster routine funds, and is a targeted capital investment for recovery and disaster mitigation. Out of the sanctioned amount, ₹944 crore has already been released as the first instalment under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). So far, ₹758 crore has already been spent on actual project execution.
He further said that 222 major damaged projects across 27 government departments have been approved, with clear timelines for completion between January and August 2026, and the entire process is being centrally monitored with daily oversight by the Finance Department to ensure transparency and timely utilisation. Issuing a strong and unequivocal warning, Sham Lal Sharma cautioned the NC-led government against any attempt to misutilise, divert or redistribute these funds meant exclusively for disaster-hit areas of Jammu.
He reminded that earlier, out of ₹209 crore released under SDRF, the NC government arbitrarily distributed ₹10 crore each to all districts, including those not affected by the disaster, blatantly ignoring the severely impacted districts of Jammu region. He termed this as gross misappropriation, administrative failure and discriminatory conduct against worst affected disaster-hit areas of Jammu, such as Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar (Chasoti), Ramban, Reasi, and some parts of Rajouri especially Kalakote-Sunderbani-Nowhera.
Sham Lal Sharma squarely held Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance and Relief & Rehabilitation portfolios, responsible for this injustice and warned that BJP will not tolerate any repetition of such malpractice. “Every rupee of this ₹1,430 crore belongs to the disaster-hit people of Jammu. BJP will ensure that it is spent judiciously, transparently and strictly as earmarked. Any attempt by the NC government to divert these funds will be strongly opposed, exposed and fought at every level,” he asserted.
All the BJP MLAs reiterated that the Modi Government once again proved its commitment to Jammu & Kashmir, while BJP will continue to act as a vigilant watchdog to safeguard the rights of the affected people and ensure zero misuse of relief funds.