BHOPAL: As Madhya Pradesh is fighting hard to recover from flood disaster, Home Minister Bala Bachchan has criticized PM Modi and BJP for disturbing relief activities in the state. He claimed that the Sardar Sarovar Dam was filled up to the full reservoir level "ahead of its schedule" to facilitate the celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday at the dam site.

He said this disturbed the relief and rehabilitation works underway in the Madhya Pradesh areas submerged under the dam water. He also pointed out that the dam was to be filled up to its full reservoir level only by mid-October as per Narmada Control Authority's schedule. "However, it was filled to the full level nearly a month ahead of its schedule so that the prime minister could celebrate his birthday at the site," he said. According to the minister, this change of schedule has disturbed the relief and rehabilitation works underway in the areas submerged under the dam water in four districts of the state.

Bala Bachchan further added that the PM should have paid more attention to those who are suffering due to the floods."It would have been better if Modiji had paid attention to the Madhya Pradesh's people affected due to the Sardar Sarovar Dam's backwaters," he added.

Modi, who turned 69 on Tuesday arrived at Kevadiya in Gujarat in the morning to take part in the 'Namami Narmada' festival being celebrated by the western state's government to mark the filling up of the Sardar Sarovar Dam to its full reservoir level of 138.68 metres.