"Where were the corporates?"
The world was dumb struck and full of sympathy as one watched on T.V. the people in Ladakh cry and shriek with pain after the floods destroyed the scenic hills and took so many lives.
The J&K government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did the best he could under the circumstances. The Indian government sent support and several senior Union Ministers were also flown off to access the situation first hand. I’m amazed at how our corporate world takes so long to save situations and help when tragedies like this hit in remote areas. Every second industrialist today has a private plane, I would have expected them to send relief stuff in bulks to help the affected immediately. It is a shame as usual that it is only the government who is left to provide food, clothing and shelter.
It is unfortunate that once again tourism is going to be hit at this sensitive time in Leh and Ladakh for the future. This was the only part of Kashmir which was termed as safe and beautiful abroad. But the kind of upheavals that the tourists have faced in the aftermath of this tragedy, foreigners will think twice before coming to this area. A wrong message has been sent when you see on international channel of how foreigners are stranded and how the help was too less. Pictures of stranded foreigners were shown time and again as they stood helping in taking out bodies from the debris. The Kashmir government has done their level best but it is also the duty of the central government to make sure that the rehabilitation work is done properly and not only in papers. Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi’s trip did reassure the locals though.
As it is Omar is stuck in Kashmir between trouble making politicians. Omar is well meaning, well bred, honest and does want to make his stint as a remarkable Chief Minister. But there is no doubt he is inexperienced. The Kashmir politicians that Omar is surrounded with are quietly watching the situation. They could help the situation if they want but are waiting for his government to fall eventually. The internal politics of the Congress in the state is not positive. The PDP the less said the better ‘Mehbooba’ is sitting pretty insulting even the Prime Minister. One does feel sorry for Omar stuck between these hard core savvy leaders. But does he have a choice? At the moment ‘No’. The only choice he has of now is to suggest himself to the Centre that he recommends Governors rule till the situation is better. Then he can step back after a couple of months. There is a wave of sympathy for Omar who understand how he has been targeted too.
The Centre at the moment has given him all support but now they are also a bit jittery. Kashmiri’s are at it everyday, little kids throwing stones, women on the streets shouting slogans and schools, shops all closed. What is the future of these children growing up in these circumstances? Obviously they will be easily swayed by easy money from wrong sources as funding by the anti-national elements is easily available. But whatever the situation one does feel sorry for the common man there. The Home Minister has been a pillar of strength for Omar. But it is sad that the situation is going from bad to worse. The High Command had better take stock or the situation may worsen. The international media is all out showing such a negative side of Kashmir and how the Indian government cannot handle it.
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