Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 22: Accusing National Conference (NC) leaders of blocking and hijacking the relief material meant for the flood victims, senior PDP leader and Member Parliament Tariq Hameed Karra today said that instead of reaching out to the needy, the ruling party is trying to cash-on the tragedy by politicizing the relief distribution amid grave tragedy that has befallen Kashmir.
Complaints are pouring in from the flood-affected areas that surfacing from hibernation, NC leaders have started hijacking the relief material from the storage points at the Srinagar Airport, EDI Building Pampore, Nigeen Club and district headquarters at Budgam, Pulwama and Anantnag, and are routing the same to their relatives and party workers instead of the deserving people affected by the floods.
“There are reports that NC leaders are not only pillaging the relief material coming through official channels, but are even snatching the relief material raised by various NGOs and civil society groups,” he said and urged the administration to prevent selective distribution of the relief by NC cadres.
He said the Government, ironically, has not paid any heed to the suggestions made by PDP president during the recently held All Party Meeting. “Distribution through religious and social organizations with proper coordination and monitoring could have ensured speedy and judicious distribution of relief among the affected”, he said.
Expressing dismay over the sluggish dewatering of various inundated city areas, Mr Karra said the people have now started seeing a design behind the Government’s inaction to restore normality in the summer capital. “After being devastated by floods, the Government now seems to be hell bent upon crippling people economically by not allowing restoration of the city business hubs,” he said.
Mr Karra also expressed dismay over the lackadaisical approach of the mobile companies including BSNL in restoring telephone connectivity in the Valley.