Appealing the world community and the globally acknowledged financial institutions including Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank to extend financial support in rebuilding the flood hit Jammu and Kashmir, Huriyat Conference chairman Mirwaz Umar Farooq Friday asked the Government of India (GOI) to rise above politics and on humanitarian grounds allow international aid agencies to reach out to the people hit by the worst ever floods.Addressing Peoples’ gathering at Historic Grand Mosque here, Mirwaiz stated that with the loss of precious human lives, the havoc has caused damage to the public property worth 80 thousand to One lakh crore.Mirwaiz while castigating the biased approach of the Indian media adopted while covering the recent floods in Kashmir, said that the claims made by media about rescuing one lakh people by the government are contrary to the ground situation. “Reality is that the people and particularly youth risked their lives amid worst floods in saving precious lives and rescuing people to safer areas,” Mirwaiz said, adding that despite the turbulent times, people sans caring about their safety, rescued people including women, children as well as the tourists across valley.
APHC chairman maintained further that the courage exhibited by youth is laudable and that he is thankful to all those people including the volunteers of Awami Majlis Amal (AML), those who made the relief camps operational and to the general masses who remained steadfast in rendering all possible help to the flood hit victims.Mirwaiz also asked people to hold themselves accountable for the wrong doings carried in the past due to which the havoc was witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked masses to beseech forgiveness from Allah for all the sins committed in the past. The APHC chairman came down heavily upon the state government for allowing construction of the residential structures in flood prone areas, hence breaking all the records of mismanagement and corruption. He added further that at the time when floods created havoc in those areas, the state administration left the perturbed people at the mercy of the situation, caring little about the measures that were ought to be taken in order to save people and public property on time.
Mirwaiz also issued appeal to the general masses to extend all possible help to the flood victims and make unanimous efforts for their rehabilitation. Cautioning those who are returning to their houses after water started receding at various places, Mirwaiz asked the people to strictly adhere to the health advisories issued by the health experts. He also maintained that in case of any need and help, people can contact the Central relief committee established at Mirwaiz Manzil.Meanwhile, in a bid to reach out to the flood hit areas of Kashmir, Mirwaiz visited various areas of Srinagar including Kursu Raj Bagh, Jawaharnagar, Ikhraj Pora, Meerak Shah colony, Habak and adjoining areas. The APHC chairman also took stock of the functioning of the relief camps established in those areas.To reach to the flood hit areas, Mirwaiz along with scores of volunteers at various places had to use the boats and tippers to listen to the woes of the victims affected by the recent torrential rains and floods. He also distributed the essentials and the related material to the relief camps across Srinagar out of Central Relief Committee, Mirwaiz Manzil. (KNS)