Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Central Government has left no stone unturned to make Kashmiris suffer during and after the floods that caused unimaginable destruction in the State.
Reacting to Modi’s remark that he found the State Government sleeping on his arrival here in the aftermath of the devastating September floods, Abdullah — who is the working president of ruling National Conference (NC) — said that the Modi Government delayed relief package to flood victims of Kashmir.
“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi had actual empathy towards Kashmiris, the flood-victims wouldn’t be camping in tents in sub-zero temperature despite the State Government repeatedly asking the BJP Government to take a final call for fulfillment of the proposed relief and rehabilitation package”, Abdullah said during election rallies held in State capital Srinagar.
“While speeches and poetic rhetorics are all well and good, where is the substanceIJ Where is the proof of these apparently noble intentionsIJ If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actually concerned about the Kashmiris and their sufferings, what is stopping him from approving the 44,000 crore relief and rehabilitation proposal for the flood victimsIJ If he wants to transfer funds directly into the accounts of the victims, who is stopping him or the Central Government from doing thatIJ All we want from the Central Government is to rise above the politics of discrimination and polarisation and do justice to the flood-affected victims”, Omar said.
He also lashed out at PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for flying between Delhi and Srinagar during the devastating floods without even caring to interact with even one of the victims.
“We kept a helicopter waiting for Mufti sahab and hoped that he would contribute his experience and help in that situation. We wanted to give him this special facility so that he could meet those he wanted to.
“However, Mufti sahab flew in and out in a chopper while hundreds of Kashmiris were struggling to survive. We understand Mufti sahab’s hurry. He must have seen this as an opportunity to lobby for power ahead of the State elections and its rather apparent how all PDP leaders, including its MPs, rushed to Delhi during the floods to seek early elections rather than helping their people”, Omar said.