Dear Sir:
September 2014 floods gave birth to a new and maiden alliance with BJP to form the government with the core issue of giving healing touch to the people of the -especially flood victims. During the floods the previous government provided people with expired food items, but most of them landed in water when they were dropped from helicopters. It was like a Hollywood film that people had to witness during the flood period as Kashmir remained submerged and the very purpose of pressing helicopter service was to ferry VVIPs to safer places like Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu Et- cetra (Government had paid for the helicopters services); the common people made wooden log boats of their own to shift their women and children to safer places. Army boats were seen ferrying some influential people. I was accompanying a 13 year old boy with water up to the level of my chest, an army boat passed through Byepass road and I requested for a lift to save the young boy but my request went unheard for unknown reasons and I managed to get a lift in tractor with my little boy.
I do not understand for whom these army boats were swung in to action. Perhaps these were brought to ferry their soldiers and selective people for which state government. When water started to recede and government started its committed rehabilitation program for the victims of floods. However, before it could start reconstructions, the coffers were declared dry so the program could not be given any practical shape, barring paltry amount during governors rule which could not even suffice to clear the debris of the collapsed houses. Ultimately, many people had to spend the harsh winters in tents and tin sheds with the expectation to receive the compensation as soon as the center sanctions package but despite repeated commitments by the CM and the Dy. CM situation remained same as was in Sept 2014.
At times, people were told that the package would be much higher than what the state government had earlier mooted as a proposal with the center. People were waiting very anxiously but this commitment too did not yield any fruit and the victims continued to suffer more than what the victims suffered in Sept 2014. Then rumors floated that PM is coming to valley where he would declare massive package of 125000 crore and now this time people felt overjoyed expected relief package like that of “Uttrakhand” but to no avail. Now this time people have shown maturity by not relying on just rumors and are instead apprehensive of spending one more harsh winter in the same tents and tin sheds because victims have lost all hopes. Where is Mufti Sahabs healing touch and pain for the sufferers despite the PDP being a coalition partner of the BJ?. Perhaps the package seems to have stuck in traffic jam! How long can the government can befool its people? Now there are unofficial reports of Modi’s maiden visit to valley. We can then wait and see what happens and what he says. But we should not optimistic about package. It is high time for Mufti to reconsider supporting BJP as was recently stated by one of the Parliamentarians of his party.
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