 EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 20: Amid COVID-19 restrictions, the prime concern of majority of politicians across party affiliations in Jammu province is to gain publicity rather than genuinely helping the people as despite repeated directions these politicians continue to violate lockdown orders to gain publicity of their minimum efforts.
Several photographs have been making rounds from some of European countries, where the philanthropists as well as common people could be found helping the people silently. “Packed eatables along with other necessary items could be found hanging at public places donated by masses for the needy people. The people are silently helping people instead of involving in cheap politics of gaining publicity even during pandemic,” a political analyst said, adding that similar examples of silent help by genuine helpers were also found during winters in Germany, when people donate woolen clothes during migrant crisis.
However, in Jammu the picture is totally different and the politicians across political spectrum could be found violating lockdown orders on the pretext of helping the needy people. The chief intention behind such efforts of the politicians to distribute eatables through their own hands and then circulating the photographs to social media and sending press released to media houses, is actually aimed at gaining publicity even during the pandemic.
Despite repeated calls of Prime Minister not to break lockdown, the politicians, who are supposed to lead by example, have been breaking the lockdown orders to serve their constituency in one way or the other. “Few days back, a case was registered against Deputy Mayor and some other politicians for violating lockdown orders but despite then these politicians have refused to shun the practice and are trying to secure points at such crucial time,” a local said, adding that most of the politicians have been helping the people through the money accumulated by corruption.
“An enquiry must also be initiated against these politicians as from where the money has been drawn by these politicians to help the masses,” he further said.
Meanwhile, few others said that there are many ways of genuinely helping the people.
“These politicians can donate money to PMCARES, while as they can also stock eatables, necessary items at their offices and contact the district administration for further distribution of the items to the needy people. Even community kitchens could also be started by these politicians in coordination with the district administration, so that the cooked food should be handed over to the administration for proper distribution,” they said.
Despite repeated instructions as well as circulars issued by District Magistrates, restricting those helping people not to circulate the media content, including photographs, videos of helping people on the social media to gain publicity, the politicians have been continue to indulge in cheap tactics of gaining popularity during lockdown. The district administration as well as LG led administration should issue strict directions and initiate action against these cheap politicians. |
