Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed grief and sorrow at the loss of life in the recent heavy snowfall and avalanches across the valley and extended condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. Mirwaiz also regretted the damage to homes and property in different parts of the valley due to heavy snow.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz said that with anguish and concern “we have been witnessing the total apathy and callousness of the authorities towards the people of Kashmir living in city, towns, villages and most of all in remote villages, struggling with the fall out of adverse weather conditions for the last two months without any respite.”
“Somehow we are surviving the lack of electricity and water, the basic necessities of life in today’s life. Leave alone facilities, no emergency provisions are in place,” Mirwaiz said.
The recently reported incident of a pregnant woman losing her child and her life and the family struggling to take her body home because of blocked roads is heart-rending, he said.
“The highways remain blocked, particularly the Jammu Srinagar highway. Thousands of men, women and children are stranded, left to fend for themselves without basic amenities or provisions of food, medicines, accommodation.”
Mirwaiz added: “As all other traditional and natural connectivity routes to outside world are closed by authorities, when this route gets blocked in winter months due to bad weather each year, people are left to fend for themselves facing a crisis and shortage of supplies which could be avoided by opening up the traditional routes. We demand that all traditional routes should be opened immediately to facilities supply of essentials and travel.”
Mirwaiz said overpricing of air tickets, is another issue that people and there is no one to look into this loot. “It is ironical that Srinagar to Jammu tickets are costing a staggering 40,000 which is less than one-way fare to New York.”
With no plan or concern to ameliorate the difficulties and sufferings of people the only activity that the “authoritarian state”, Mirwaiz said, is proactive in are the CASO’s (Cordon and Search Operations) meant to kill, maim, terrorize and destroy people. Mirwaiz strongly denounced the launching of CASO operation in Bandipora this morning.
“I appeal to the humanitarian agencies and people concerned with human suffering to support and assist those who are undergoing immense difficulties due to harshest weather conditions and total apathy of the state.”
Mirwaiz said that the People of Kashmir have a tradition and culture to help each other in difficult times, as “we saw during the floods.”
“Once again I ask them for help and support particularly for those in these dense and dire circumstances.”
