Member Parliament and Polit Bureau member of CPI (M) Sitaram Yechuri on Thursday stressed on immediate relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir.After concluding his two day visit to the flood hit State, Yechuri said that back in Delhi he will advocate that the floods in Kashmir be declared as a National disaster. “I visited a number of areas both in Jammu pision and in Kashmir but the flood affected people complained of official apathy,” the senior CPI (M) leader said, according to KNS correspondent.Yechuri said that right now the state and the central government must prioritize relief and future rehabilitation of the flood affected sectors especially agriculture, horticulture business and the tourism. The CPI (M) Polit Bureau member said that the relief and rehabilitation initiatives must go on while continuing with the democratic process.
“Wherever we visited, flood victims told us that they did not receive any officials from the central or the state government. They also complained that they did not receive any relief or interim compensation. One fails to understand why central and the state governments have failed to address these basic issues even a month after floods,” Yechury said while advocating for immediate shelters for the homeless and displaced people so that they can survive the coming winter.According to KNS correspondent, Yechury said that CPI (M) has also contributed around Rs 10 Crores from MPLADs of its Member Parliament but the same will be approved by the central government. He said all the benefits mentioned in the law pertaining to the National disaster must be extended to the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir. “This will not be a favour or charity but central and the state governments are duty bound to help the flood affected people under law,” he added.
Yechury also urged the government to waive off loans raised by the farmers as their crops have been destroyed by the ravaging floods. “There are other areas wherein people have taken loans like for the purpose of business and construction of houses, the same needs to be given considered passionately,” Yechury demanded.The CPI (M) leader said that central government needs to revisit its policy stand on Kashmir and it should feel the miseries of the flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. “If Jammu and Kashmir is an atoot ang (integral part) which it is, then it should be treated at par with other states of the country. The central government must take steps in order to restore its credibility," Yechury said.
When asked about the CPI (M)’s stand on Assembly election due later this year in the state, Yechury said: “I think the election commission is in consultation with the political parties in the state and after these deliberations it will decide the timing of elections.
The CPI (M) leader also asked the central government to take steps in order to de-escalate tensions on the border. “I think Mr Modi had raised so many hopes that things are changing and a decisive government has come. He had also invited Pakistan prime minister on his swearing in ceremony. I think steps must be taken to end the border skirmishes in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Yechury was accompanied by CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. (KNS)