The unprecedented floods following heavy rains in Jammu & Kashmir have inundated vast areas, with lakhs of people stranded. Over two hundred have perished and lakhs are still to be rescued. Communication of large parts of Kashmir with outside have been totally cut off, large areas have been without power for days. Plight of people of J&K deserve utmost empathy and urgent action. Relief and rescue are needed urgently and concretely.
Weather is already tending to be cold in J&K and with this flood temperatures will fall further making warm clothing an added urgency. Medicines for water borne diseases, for cleaning water for drinking are needed. People, who lost all and are stranded, also need food.
CPI(ML)-New Democracy expresses its deep concern at slow pace of relief work being undertaken in J&K. It is particularly worrisome given the scale of presence of armed forces and state agencies in the state of J&K. CPI(ML)-New Democracy is also dismayed at the reports of discrimination in rescue and relief operations, of “priorities” in saving and providing relief to people. Naturally all this has built a lot of resentment among the affected people.
CPI(ML)-New Democracy also expresses concern at the acts of omission and commission which have contributed to the scale of death and destruction. Non-maintenance of old dams and embankments and silting of canals and mindless new constructions of dams along with deforestation have contributed to this catastrophe in both India and Pakistan.
CPI(ML)-New Democracy appeals to the people to do all that they can and to come to aid of people of J&K. CPI(ML)-New Democracy calls upon all party units, activists and mass organizations to exercise their utmost in this direction.
September 11, 2014 Central Committee, CPI(ML)-New Democracy