Kashmiris Protest Against Selective Relief Distribution
Relief material being distributed in one of the flood-ravaged areas
NEW DELHI: Strong resentment is brewing among the people in Kashmir in the fallout of the catastrophic floods and it is alleged that the Coalition Government in the state is hijacking the relief material at various places and distributing them amongst the party workers.
In the past few days, scores of protests have taken place in various parts of Srinagar city and South Kashmir Pulwama area. The people there are claiming that they are being discriminated against.
Further, they accused the NC-Congress leaders of hijacking the relief material that was meant for the flood victims.
“It has been two weeks since flood hit our areas leaving the tale of devastation and destruction, but we are yet to receive any relief from the Government except a few blue eyed persons” alleged the protesters of Dalgate, Khayam and Nowpora, who held a protest in Srinagar city on Wednesday.
Shouting slogans against the coalition government, the protesters alleged that state government is trying to keep the party workers happy, even in such a tragic situation.
“Despite such tragedy, political parties are still eyeing on votes and their workers, so they keep workers happy and forget the real sufferers” alleged a protester Shabir Ahmad of Kaka Sarie, Srinagar.
Even in South Kashmir , the “selective distribution” of relief at some particularly selected places has led to wrath and outrage amongst the people.
The people demand that a proper mechanism should be put in place which looks after the distribution of relief material.
Numerous voices are being raised against the political leaders in Anantnag and Pulwama as well. The political leaders are accused of distributing the relief material on party basis instead of the flood victims.
The residents of Gurpora, Gulzarpora, Tulbug, Kakapora, Ratnipora of Pulwama district said that the government has given relief only to their own people.
Reports from Doru Shahabad, Qazigund in Anantnag District read that people have alleged that the Congress workers hijacked the relief trucks near Jawahar tunnel and distributed it to the local party workers.
“Two senior leaders of Congress Doru hijacked relief trucks near tunnel and distributed it to their own workers” said BJP activist Ghulam Hassan Bhat.
Meanwhile, PDP President and South Kashmir Parliamentarian Mehbooba Mufti accused the ruling parties’- Congress and NC of gaining political mileage out of people’s miseries and victimhood.
“It is a general perception among the people that after being drowned in floods the government was now trying to show signs of presence through arbitrary and biased distribution of relief ”, Mehbooba said after touring the flood hit areas of Surankote, Mendhar and Haveli in Poonch district.
She added that the government was routing the relief material through ruling parties which itself speaks about the intention of the ruling dispensation.
Responding to her claims , the NC Doru candidate advocate Farooq A Ganie said that whatever we did for relief was purely on humanitarian basis.
“It was a humanitarian crisis and as NC candidate whatever we donated was just a humanitarian help to our brothers in need” he said.
“Unlike Congress who are hijacking the relief trucks on the order of local MLA, coming from outside state and distributing it among their workers, NC is reaching the affected people”, he added.