In a unique gesture to express solidarity with victims of the recent Jammu & Kashmir deluge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Srinagar on Diwali and spend time with those affected by the devastation.
“Will be in Srinagar on Diwali on October 23 & will spend the day with our sisters & brothers affected by the unfortunate flood,” Modi tweeted.The PM may announce a special package during his day-long visit to Srinagar and is likely to meet delegations from various sections of society at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar.
Ahead of his visit, an inter-Ministerial team, comprising representatives from various Ministries, are in the State to assess the damage caused by the recent floods in the State.The delegation includes officials from the Ministries of Home, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development. They met State Government officials and affected people to collate information about the damage caused to dwellings, crops, livestock, roads, bridges, embankments and other Government properties.
The State, especially Srinagar Valley was hit by unprecedented floods causing widespread damage. The Prime Minister visited Srinagar during the floods and made an aerial survey of the calamity besides taking stock of rescue and relief operations. He also announced an Rs 1,000-crore package for rehabilitation of the State and promised to do whatever else the Government can to mitigate the suffering of the people.
According to official estimates, nearly 285 lives were lost and around 3.5 lakh houses damaged in the flood.Modi’s gesture was lauded by State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, the PDP added that it would have been better had the PM also spent Eid in the Valley.
“I appreciate the gesture of @narendramodi to mark Diwali by spending it with the flood-affected people of J&K in Srinagar, the worst hit,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
In an apparent reference to the PDP, the Chief Minister said those questioning the timing of the Prime Minister’s visit on Diwali instead of Eid, would also be cursing the Government due to restrictions necessitated by either strike called by the separatists or security arrangements made for such high profile visits.
“The people asking why Diwali & why not Eid would’ve been the same people cursing because of the restrictions caused by hartal and security. let’s just appreciate that @narendramodi is in Srinagar on his festival and not at home celebrating as he normally would have been doing,” he said.
Appreciating the Prime Minister for his decision, PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar tweeted: “It is a good gesture. But it would have been very thoughtful if he had decided to be here for Eid also which was observed immediately after the floods.”
He added that an earlier visit to the flood-affected State by the Prime Minister could also have put some pace into the relief and rehabilitation process.
Congress leader and Parliament member Shashi Tharoor, who was sacked from the post of party spokesman for praising Modi’s cleanliness drive, was cautious in his reaction. “Diwali in Srinagar is a great idea but it would have been better if there wasn’t an election looming in the State,” he tweeted.Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hailed Modi’s gesture and tweeted: “Decision of our beloved PM to celebrate Diwali with flood-hit brethren of Kashmir is mark of a true leader.”
Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu tweeted that he will spend Diwali with victims of cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh. “This Diwali I will be with people of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram on October 22 and 23 who are facing hardships after Hudhud,” he said.