M A I N   N E W S

Flood loss, not polls, my top concern: Omar
Arun Joshi
Tribune News Service

‘EC, Centre to decide on polls’ If the Election Commission in consultation with the Central government wants to have elections (as were originally scheduled), I will give my response at that time. As of now, I haven’t been asked. Therefore, I don’t have an opinion. — Omar Abdullah, J-K chief minister

Srinagar, September 25
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it would not be his call if the Election Commission decides to go ahead with the Assembly polls as per the original schedule.

“Not my call”, the Chief Minister told The Tribune in an exclusive interview here today when asked that there were some voices favouring the Assembly polls as were originally scheduled by this year-end.

“Right now my whole focus is on restoration of infrastructure and providing relief to the people affected by the unprecedented floods in the first week of this month,” he said.

Originally, the elections were scheduled for November-December this year. But the devastating floods brought a disaster to the state, rendering thousands homeless. Jammu and Kashmir was hit by devastating floods early this month, inundating most parts of the state, particularly the summer capital city of Srinagar, and the state machinery is engaged in the relief and restoration work.

“If the Election Commission in consultation with the Central government wants to have elections (as were originally scheduled), I will give my response at that time. As of now, I haven’t been asked. Therefore, I don’t have an opinion,” the Chief Minister said.

The state government is planning to submit a detailed memorandum to the Government of India regarding losses and damages suffered by the state in the floods. It will be submitted to the Centre after the Cabinet decides on the assessment of damage to horticulture, agriculture, industry, tourism, roads and bridges, etc.

“It will be an all-inclusive memorandum”, the Chief Minister said adding that that would be the time when the Centre’s promise of the unqualified support to lift the state out of this morass would be known in reality. So far, there have been many assurances and reassurances.

At this point of time, the state is in the process of making assessment of losses and damages. Several parts of Srinagar city are still having water. “It will take a few more days for the complete picture to emerge. It’s only then that we would be able to make complete assessment and submit a memo to the Centre,” Omar said.

“The Centre has been helpful. We have received relief material, medicines, food, blankets and tents and so on,” he said. “As for the Indian nation is concerned, the help has come from many states and corporate world, NGOs and others. For example, it was a unique generosity when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced Rs 20 crore relief to the state and Haryana supplied pumps. It has been overwhelming,” he said.

On the continuous call by the separatists that the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) should come to the help of the people of Kashmir, Chief Minister observed, “I would have understood it had the people been starving or the relief not reaching them. But the fact is that I haven’t received any offer of help from any member of the OIC or for that matter from any other foreign government. If they want to help, we are in need of medical machinery worth Rs 200 crore. Let them give it to us. It is another matter if they are dealing with the GOI.” “They (separatists) are playing politics,” he commented.

Asked about the charges that there has been irregular distribution of relief material – some getting more ration and relief while others not getting anything – Omar said, “I am yet to see an example of perfect distribution of relief. Our priority was to reach the people with relief. Discipline could not have been expected from the people because they were in need.”

Omar wondered over the accusations that his party National Conference had hijacked the relief distribution. “First, they (opposition PDP) said that the NC had vacated the field and now they are saying that the party workers had hijacked the relief distribution. Both can’t be true. The fact is that the party is distributing relief collected by its own resources,” he said.