In spite of making clear-cut announcement in the Assembly, filing affidavit with the Human Rights Commission, making commitment in the public, State and Union Governments are now lying and refusing to take care of medical expenses, treatment, hearing aid, artificial limbs, charged Dr. Kirit Somaiya, Ex MP & Vice President – BJP Maharashtra.  The Govt. and Railway are making absurd claim about fulfillment of all the promises.  Dr. Somaiya questioned the Chief Minister and Railway authorities, “Are the 416 victims, who submitted their grievances/complaints to the Human Rights Commission, the State Govt. and the Railway, are liars?”.  Dr. Somaiya said that it is a pity that the Railway and the State Govt. are passing the buck for relief and rehabilitation.  1077 victims of the blast are the worst sufferers.

The BJP leader produced various documentary evidence at the Press Conference organized in Mumbai on the eve of completion of one year to 11/7/2006 bomb blast.  Dr. Somaiya produced the proceedings of the Maharashtra Legislature and the affidavit filed by its Chief Secretary with the Human Rights Commission.

The Govt. had made very clear announcement and commitment that all medical care shall be taken by the Govt. and the Railway.  Proper job shall be offered to the families of the victims.

“We will not leave the injured, victims of the Bomb blast on the roads in the open.  We shall take care of all the medical expenses including in the private hospitals.  Maharashtra Govt. has taken this decision and all financial arrangement shall be made”, stated Shri R.R. Patil, Dy. Chief Minister in the Legislature on 12^th July 2006 responding to the Adjournment Motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition.

Chief Minister, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, made announcement and gave commitment in and after the joint meeting of all political parties on 12^th July 2006, “we have seen the status of the injured and the State Govt. has taken the decision to provide all medical relief and expenses to all the victims”.

While responding to the Petition filed by Dr. Somaiya with the Human Rights Commission, Chief Secretary, Dr. D.K. Sankaran, in the affidavit, clearly stated :

i)    State Govt. and Railways shall take care of all medical expenses.

ii)   Healthy Ministry has issued instructions to all hospitals not to charge the patients/victims.

iii)  State Govt. shall provide hearing aids.

The Railway Minister, Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav also made clear-cut announcement during his visit to Mumbai on 12^th July 2006, “we will provide all medical relief and also proper job to the victims/family”.

The status after a year is that 416 victims are moving from pillar to post to get claims, compensation, medical treatment, successive surgeries.

In his status report, Dr. Kirit Somaiya stated that :

• Railway Claims Tribunal has settled the claims of 174 victims out of 1077 and these people have received the claim amount.
• 225 victims require hearing aids, surgeries, artificial limbs.
• 200 victims are yet to get financial compensation, help.
• Out of 235 eligible persons, only 44 persons have been offered job by the Railway and they have joined.

Union Govt., State Govt. and Railway should take care of 1077 victims/families and complete the commitment by 11trh July 2007, demanded Dr. Kirit Somaiya.

The Petition filed by Dr. Kirit Somaiya, MLA Shri Gopal Shetty and Shri Parag Alawani with the Human Rights Commission will come up for hearing on 25^th July 2007.