Hurriyat to build Kashmiri Pandit's home destroyed in September flood - Authint Mail
SRINAGAR -- Kashmir's chief cleric and chairman of moderate Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Saturday laid the foundation stone for constructing some of the houses which were destroyed in September floods that caused immense destruction across the region.
The houses will be built under 'Akh Akis' initiative launched by Mirwaiz's Hurriyat, most of them destroyed in the worst-hit summer capital, Srinagar.
The first house to be built is of a Kashmiri Pandit, Moti Lal, a retired teacher, who lost his home in Mandar Bagh locality of Srinagar.
Mirwaiz paid tributes to the youth who played a vital role in relief and rehabilitation work when the city was hit by the flood on September 7.
Another house will be constructed at Kral Khud and it belongs to the widow of Abdul Majeed, whose son, a volunteer in relief activities, Mohammad Musaib, died during a rescue mission.
Musaib died while trying to save people on September 8 during which their boat capsized. The widow now lives a hard life with her young orphans.
Another house belongs to Ghulam Mustafa Bhat, of Gaw Kadal, a newspaper hawker. In Maisuma, house of Shabir Ahmad Bhat which completely collapsed during the flood will also be constructed.
Bhat, a tailor by profession, lost his shop during the recent floods and he is the sole bread earner in the impoverished family.
"We have gone through a lot during the last 20 years. We saw the flood fury as well. This has been a difficult time for us, but I think we have shown the strength, commitment and courage to rise again," he said.
Asked about why he chose to start from rebuilding the house of a Pandit, he said: "We know Moti Lal did not left Kashmir when other Pandit brothers left. He has been with people through thick and thin," adding, "I think it is our duty to start rehabilitation with that family which has not left us. And I think it is a humanitarian effort."
He said there are over 50,000 completely damaged houses in Srinagar alone, "This is a huge challenge. And rather than focusing on this issue, right now, politics is being done over the sufferings of the people," he said.
He also castigated authorities for conducting polls in Kashmir soon after floods.
"This was the time when people need shelter on their heads. People are homeless today. I think it was really unjustified on the part of those forces, who want to carry this exercise, just to give an impression that the democracy on the ground is very much vibrant," he said.
He appealed people to generously offer their donations to Dar-ul-Khair, Mirwaiz Manzil, which is spearheading the 'Akh Akis' initiative.
