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| Alarmed Omar against LA polls on due date | | Time for relief, rehabilitation | | Neha
JAMMU, Oct 14: The ruling National Conference (NC) might have expressed its willingness to go by the decision of the Election Commission as far as the holding of Assembly elections in the flood-ravaged state is concerned, but the truth is that NC working president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his heart of hearts doesn't want elections on the due dates. This became clear on Sunday, when he told a senior commentator that "at the moment, thousands are homeless"; that "floods struck the Kashmir valley, hit hard Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Reasi and washed away villages"; that "we have to determine our priority"; that "the winter is knocking at our doors and we have to save our people from the harsh conditions before that"; and that "it is only thereafter (after EC takes final decision) that I will take a call on this".
Even a lay man would understand the meaning of what Omar Abdullah said. His message was loud and clear: The time is not appropriate for organizing any electoral exercise in the state. Normally, people do not trust him, but in the instant case reasonable persons would surely share and endorse his view that things are not in a good shape both in Jammu and the Valley. The ongoing ceasefire violations and unprovoked firing from across the LoC and IB have further adversely impacted about 5 lakh people living near the LoC and IB with many of them have migrated to make-shift camps and others are in the process of migration.
According to an advocacy group, "the initial estimates made public by the State Government suggest that state has suffered a loss of rupees one trillion and if one adds damages suffered by the GOI establishments in the state and private sector the losses can exceed to over rupees 1.5 trillion". Similarly, according to preliminary official estimates, "the housing sector suffered losses over Rs. 30,000 crore while business sector incurred losses worth over Rs. 70,000 crores; and the floods directly affected 12.5 Lakh families across the State". Besides, official figures suggest that "353864 houses were damaged by the floods and with each passing day more and more houses are collapsing in some posh colonies and lower middle class dwellings of Srinagar city and some rural areas".
As per some "independent" sources, "over seventy per cent population suffered because of the deluge" and "losses suffered by public and private sectors are very huge and reconstructing these need immense resources, conducive administrative atmosphere and responsive and committed administrative machinery".
One may or may not accept all that the State Government has been saying about the losses caused by flood, but it cannot be denied that the magnitude of the loss was colossal and that about two lakh people have been directly and indirectly badly hit by the flood. This, plus the ongoing Pakistani evil activities along the LoC and IB, and even deep inside the Indian territories in Jammu and Kashmir, have created a situation that cannot be termed as conducive by any yardstick for the electoral exercise. Hence, it would be only desirable if the EC takes a holistic view before taking a final decision. |
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