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Mirwaiz says Modi's visit mere optics
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has criticised the Modi government for 'not undertaking any rehabilitation work in the valley'.
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has criticised the Modi government for "not undertaking any rehabilitation work in the valley".
Speaking to HT from his Hazratbal residence, where he remained under house arrest on diwali day, Mirwaiz Umar said "BJP led government has neither announced any package for the flood victims nor is allowing any international aid to come to the valley. Either they should help out the flood affected in a big way or allow international aid to come in".
"So the visit is mere optics, that too aimed more at people in India than Kashmir." Mirwaiz said the Prime Minister did not "bother to even address the Kashmiri people on Eid".
"When he first visited the valley in September, Modi called the floods national calamity but they haven't even declared it as so officially," he added.
The moderate Hurriyat chairman was placed under house detention in the morning fearing that he was planning an anti-Modi rally in downtown Srinagar.
Mirwaiz led Awami Action Committee was involved in relief and rescue during the floods. The organisation is now building 100 houses across the valley at an estimated cost of Rs 5.2 lakhs each. "we had asked people to give application and are getting the applications reviewed by masjid committees. We will be starting the constructions soon," Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz however did not support the shutdown call given by hardline hurriyat. "We did not want a shutdown as our non muslim brothers and sisters have to celebrate diwali," he said.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had criticised separatists from their hartal call.
"If we down the shutters of shops on his arrival and than expect relief from Prime Minister. I think its mere hypocrisy," Abdullah told a news channel.
