Kashmir Valley

In this October 18, 2014 photo, protestors hold placards at Lal Chowk in Srinagar demanding Prime Minister Naredndra Modi’s intervention for rehabilitation of the Kashmir flood victims. Photo: PTI

Srinagar: Though Narendra Modi had said he would spend his time in Srinagar; ““sit and sip tea” in a relief camp as a gesture of solidarity with the flood victims on the occasion of Diwali” as reported earlier, however, according to details provided by local BJP leaders, the Prime Minister would hold indoor interaction only with some delegations.

“Modi Ji will interact with delegations of almost all political parties apart from civil society, traders, hoteliers and flood-affected people either at Raj Bhawan or SKICC. He is not scheduled to visit any flood-hit area in Srinagar,” BJP’s Valley-based leader Fayaz Ahmad Bhat told Kashmir Reader on Wednesday.

Modi arrived on Thursday afternoon in summer capital Srinagar after visiting troops at the Siachen glacier, the world’s highest battlefield in Ladakh region.

Modi was received in Srinagar by state Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior civil personnel, police and security force officers at the airport.

“He will hold a meeting with army as well. The purpose of that meeting is to appreciate the role of army in rescue operation during the floods. On the evening, he will return to New Delhi,” Bhat said.

On Tuesday, Modi had announced on his Twitter handle that he is coming to Kashmir on Diwali to spend the day with flood-hit people. Both ruling National Conference and opposition PDP appreciated his “gesture” of coming here on this occasion. However, two factions of Hurriyat Conferences have called for a shutdown on Thursday and holding of peaceful protests against the visit.

Chairman Hurriyat Conference(M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday dismissed Indian Prime Minister Narednra Modi’s visit Kashmir on Diwali as a mere “publicity stunt.

Mirwaiz, during his visit to flood-hit areas, said “the theatrics of false mourning and tears were a hollow show of sympathy over the hardships faced by the flood-hit Kashmiris.”

He said that people were immensely suffering due to floods since past two months, rendered homeless, and had nothing to left to fend their families.

Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the valley on Thursday.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength and are conducting random checking of vehicles. Special checking points have been set up at various places in the city including entry and exit points as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

This is Modi’s fourth visit to Jammu and Kashmir since taking charge as Prime Minister in May.

Srinagar: The J&K government has to pay Rs. 650 crores to Indian Air Force (IAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the rescue operations they carried out and the relief material distributed during the recent floods in Kashmir.

According to a report published by Rising Kashmir, a bill of over Rs. 650 crores has been drafted in Delhi and verbally communicated to the state government through official channels.

“However, the state government has not received the hard copy of the bill so far,” sources said, the paper reported.

They said the bill also includes charges for food items dropped from the choppers and for the boats that were used during the rescue operations.

The disclosure of this bill was discussed in a meeting of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah with traders prior to their road show protest to press for their demands to expedite rehabilitation process.

Citing official sources, the paper quoted that, “during the meeting, the CM disclosed that the bill has been prepared by IAF and NDRF for their relief efforts in the valley.”

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday said they haven’t received any such bill so far.

However, he added: “I don’t have any information about it yet, but anyways we have to pay the bill as per the procedure.”

Khanday said it was on the recommendation of the state government that services of IAF and NDRF were availed at the time of disaster to be paid for from the funds of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

“Whenever IAF and NDRF services are availed by any state at the time of disaster, they have to be paid from the treasury of state’s SDRF,” said Khanday.

Earlier, the central government came under criticism for allegedly dropping expired food items from the choppers in the name of relief.

“It is a cruel joke, first they provide us expired food items and now they are charging for it,” a trader said requesting anonymity.

The development has come at a time when flood victims are desperately seeking financial package for their rehabilitation.

It has also infuriated the business community which has been badly affected in the floods.

“It is an irony that instead of sending relief package for the revival of Kashmir, Centre is sending such kind of bills,” said another businessman.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had announced Rs. 1000 crore relief package for J&K along with Rs. 320 crore State Disaster Relief Fund, but the affected families have not been paid so far.

Modi won’t visit any flood-hit area in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir asked to pay Rs. 650 cr bill for IAF and NDRF rescue operations

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives