Govt to settle claims of blast victims by July 11: BJP

MUMBAI: Almost a year after the horrific train bombings here, the BJP on Thursday said it had been assured by the state government that all claims of those injured and the next of kin of the dead would be settled by July 11.

"I had a meeting with Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam and he assured me that all claims will be settled before July 11, the first anniversary of the blasts. The National Human Rights Commission has also issued a notice to the state government in this matter," BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told reporters here.

Of the total of 1,077 people affected by the terrorist attacks, the claims of 844 have been settled so far, Somaiya said. The state government on Wednesday had accepted that it still had to pay compensation, which had to be paid within 15 days of the incident, to over 170 victims.

"The government has refused to provide surgery or hearingaids to many victims because their injuries are classified as minor. This shows the apathy of the state government towards these victims," he said.

"On the one hand, the government has filed an affidavit with the NHRC stating that it has made arrangements for hearing aids, but at the same time it is refusing to providethem. If the claims are not settled by July 11, we will stage a protest against it."