Mainstream parties playing politics with floods victims: Mirwaiz Umar

“Despite passing of four months, authorities are yet to start the rehabilitation process for flood affected persons. People at the helm of New Delhi have been playing politics over the sufferings of flood victims. Their priority should have been rehabilitation of the flood affected people, but they gave preference to sham elections and left them to fend for themselves,” Mirwaiz said, while launching second phase of special housing initiative ‘AkhAkis’
(All together) for downtrodden flood victims at Chatabal area here.
“Pro-India parties who were missing during the deluge and instead got involved in election drama for power also left the flood victims at the mercy of God. As these parties which are free from their electoral exploits have now surfaced and started talking about rehabilitation of flood victims. This is rubbing salt into the wounds of flood victims,” he said.
The housing initiative has been undertaken under the banner of Dar-ul-Khair, MirwaizManzil led by him.
On the occasion, Mirwaiz in presence of a large number of people and enthused volunteers laid foundation of six houses completely damaged by the floods.
“Today, we want to give a message that Kashmiris without any help from the government have succeeded to restart their lives through community building,” he said.
Elaborating, he said, resilience, courage and unity exhibited by Kashmiris after the devastating floods is a ray of hope that no task is impossible. “Through community building they have shown to the world that despite being hit to the ground they have the capacity to rise again and face any challenge,” he said.
Mirwaiz had launched the housing initiative on November 29 last year from MandirBagh area here. He said in the first phase, Darul-Khair plans to construct 100 houses for economically downtrodden flood-hit families selected by respective mohalla committees.
“For us religion or party affiliation is no criteria. We have taken the responsibility of  reconstruction of a house of Kashmiri Pandit at MandirBagh. Our aim is to provide shelter to those who cannot afford to rebuild their damaged houses,” he said.
He appealed people to extend helping hand to the AkhAkis initiative. “Our initiative is indigenous and we are dependent on contribution from Kashmiris living within and outside the state,” he said.
He said over 600 people have registered themselves as volunteers of Dar-ul-Khair. “Our initiative has become a movement. It has provided a platform to inculcate a sense of shared responsibility towards our community and each other. I am proud of our youngsters,” he said.
To a question on unity among separatists, Mirwaiz said “there is unity of thought among us.”
“The main issue is of aspirations of Kashmiris. The issue is much larger. We have different parties and have to work towards the unity. However, the strength of the ongoing movement is that despite having different parties, their ideology is strong and objective is common to address the aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said.