Asserting that the real extent, dimensions and impact of the recent floods is still not being realized by the government agencies, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Saturday urged the Government of India (GoI) to come out of the indifferent attitude towards the calamity that has struck Jammu and Kashmir and reach out to victims in an adequate measure.Addressing a party convention, attended by the party president Mehbooba Mufti; general secretary, Mohammad Dilawar Mir; parliamentarians, Muzzafar Hussain Baig, Tariq Hameed Karra; senior party leaders, all legislators and district presidents, he said that PDP wants to convey to GoI in strongest terms that the response to the tragedy in Kashmir has been grossly inadequate, tardy and it looks cruelly indifferent.
He said that Modi’s reputation as “pragmatic leader” is on test in Jammu and Kashmir and even after one month after the catastrophic floods the Government of India is yet to convey a sense of urgency in rehabilitation and reconstruction of the ravaged state.“Modi as a Chief Minister had rebuilt Gujrat in the wake of earthquake and even extended immediate help to another state, Uttrakhand, in their moment of crises but he is still to respond adequately as Prime Minister of the country to the pain and destruction Jammu and Kashmir has suffered in the recent floods”, he said.The PDP patron said that people of the country and Government of India, in particular, has in the past responded with all urgency and seriouness to all the natural calamities that have struck various parts of the country, whether it was tsunami, earthquakes or floods. “However, in case of Kashmir there seems to be a lack of empathy and concern which could result in increasing the trust deficit between the state and rest of the country.
Mufti said that the response of Government of India to the tragedy in Kashmir could redefine the level of relationship between the people here and rest of the country which have in the past been victim of mistrust and mistakes. He said that the people of state could not be left to their own fate for the inability of state government to deliver. “The GOI has a moral and legal obligation to provide immediate relief and ensure proper rehabilitation of the affected people at the earliest and such a responsibility is not limited to the only visit of PM and announcement of initial financial package”, he said.
The PDP patron said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not beg for doles but they seek compensation for the loss suffered as part of a country which rightly boasts of being the largest democracy and Asian Tiger. “The democracy is strengthen by the people and not be territory alone. The Government of India has to reach out to the people at this crucial juncture with adequate relief and ensure proper rehabilitation and reconstruction”, he said adding that it was unfortunate that union government has not even announced its plans of rehabilitation so far, which has only added to the prevailing chaos and disappointment.
“We have avoided indulging in any blame game and instead have tried to join the rescue and relief operation across the state without politicizing the issues”, he said adding, “However, now we are putting Government of India on a notice because now things are getting worse with the approaching winters and increased danger to the lives of people”, he said.
Mufti said that there can be no compensation for the actual loss suffered by the people and the economy of the state as it is the sense of security of the people which has been shattered by these floods. “But in order to help people to pick up threads of life again we demand that a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh for every destroyed house and Rs 2 lakh for repairable house may be announced immediately. Similarly there has been a colossal loss suffered by business community, tourism sector, farmers in agriculture and horticulture sectors and infrastructure. All of them will need adequate compensation”.
He said that claims were made that the present BJP government will follow Vajpayee’s line on Kashmir but there is no evidence of that either on political or on humanitarian level. “Modi is missing moment to rise to Vajpayee’s level,” Mufti said.
He recalled that when he took over as Chief Minister AB Vajpayee was first to invite him along with LK Advani and he could feel the urge in PM to connect people of Kashmir with rest of country, by reaching out to them after they had suffered immense trauma for many years, and also build bridges with Pakistan to resolve the issue amicably. The same sprit needs to be revived, Mufti said and pointed out that instead of explaining globally the Kashmir issue, which this country of 1.2 billion people has to do off and on, the PM must seize the present moment to lead the reconstruction of Kashmir from the front. (KNS)