Making political and communal capital out of Utharakhand flood tragedy

Due to incessant and unprecedented  rains that lashed out Utharakhand for days together, River Ganga had overflown inundating the locality and other nearby areas  As a result of this thousands of pilgroims visting Kedarnath shrine in Utharakhand got trapped in the mountain ridges. Moreover, hundreds of pilgrims have gone missing. As per official estmates, 5,000 pilgrims were killed in this tragic incident. However, it is likely that the toll would be much more than this. Those pilgrims who got trapped in the mountain ridges for several days without food were saved through strenuous efforts with the help of the Army. Those survived this tragedy have either lost their son, daughter or sister or such close relations. The Kedarnath town has itself got exinct during the floods. Almost all the roads have also been wiped out. In addition thousands of buildings have been ravaged.

Utharakhand flood tragedy can doubtlessly be termed as the biggest tragedy of the decade. Needless to state, human beings are only responsible for the same.  With the sole motive of financial gain dozens of resorts and hotels have sprung up at Kedarnath and surrounding areas by removing the earth from the mountains and indiscriminate cutting  of the forests.It is a fact that all the governments who had ruled the state turn by turn had remained mute spectators to such acts of vested interests.

A matter worth special mention here is that the unauthorized mining of sand from the beds of River Ganga accompanied by the pollution at the hands of human beings have already brought Ganga on the brink of doom. It is common knowledge that from time immemorial the water of Ganga was considered to be sacred by the Hindus in our country and those pilgrims who visit Kedarnath or such shrines whch are on the bank of Ganga used to collect water of Ganga in bottles and cans and take home for being given to ailing family members or relations. However, the same sacred water has now rendered unfit for human consumption due to its getting polluted by germs. According to observers and learned people, if remedial measures are not initiated on a war footing, it will not be too long before river Ganga goes the ‘Bharathapuzha way’ of getting doomed. Bowing to the persistent demands of people from different walks of life as also environmentalists, the Government of India had already conceded to spare Rs.100 crore towards cleansing of Ganga river and an Action Plan for the purpose was to have been drawn for the same. Nevertheless, things have not moved a bit towards that end as yet and the said decision still remains on paper.

Incidentally, soon after the floods have caused severe havoc to human beings at Kedarnath, Sri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat who is an aspirant of becoming of next Prime Minister of our country, had paid a visit to the flood affected Kedarnath.While at Kedarnath, he did not forget to make a number of promises to the pilgrims including that of re-constructing Kedarnath shrine etc. While Modi was at Kedarnath, news had spread regarding Congress Vice President and another aspirant for Prime Ministership Rahul Gandhi’s going abroad to celebrate his birth day without bothering to visit Utharakhand which came handy for BJP-Sanghparivar combine to brand his behavior as irresponsible and anti-people while comparing him with Modi. It is to be mentioned here that soon after Modi’s departure, several news channels and newspapers, quoting BJP-Sanghparivar sources, have disclosed that Modi had arranged shifting of 15,000 Gujarathies to Gujarat by helicopter in two days’ time which he had himself supervised. Naturally, the news spread like wild fire got all over the country and BJP-Sanghparivar followers lost no time in eulogizing Modi as the true leader of the people and acclaiming his leadership qualities, vision and resolve to act quickly at the time of a national tragedy or crisis. Rather they have made it a propaganda posing questions like “Is it a responsible act on the part of a person like Rahul Gandhi who is aspiring to be Prime Minister and the people should seriously ponder over the point whether Modi who is sensitive to the problems of the people is the correct choice to lead the country or irresponsible and insensitive person like Rahul Gandhi etc. etc.They have  also given a call to fall in line behind Modi’s leadership for making a prosperous India.

Be that as it may, there were all-rounde skepticism in several quarters about the genuineness of the claim made by the BJP-Sanghparivar combine. Eyebrows were raised at the claim of taking 15,000 people in 2 days’ time that too in helicopter which was considered well-nigh impossible. Many people have criticized the said claim as exaggeration of facts and accused BJP-Sanghaparivar combine for misleading the people. Subsequently, the number of pilgrims taken to Gujarat was reduced to 6,000. Understandably, this had prompted BJP President Rajnath Singh to disown responsibility for spreading the above claim.. Thus it turned out to a game plan with a vew to glorifying Modi who is aspiring to be next Prime Minister.

It is apt to state here that Congress Vice President and another aspirant for Prme Ministership, had gone abroad after two days of the Utharakhand tragedy to celebrate his birth day without bothering to visit flood affected areas.  It is but natural that this  had drawn flak from BJP-Sanghparvar combine and they have made it a propaganda  posing questions like “Is it a responsible acton the part of a person aspiring to become Prime Minister of India to have gone abroad to celebrate birth day without bothering to visit Utharakhand when thousands of pilgrims have been killed and those survived are undergong untold hardship and misery?  They have also drawn a comparison of Rahul Gandhi with Modi stressing the point that Modi is a leader of far-sightedness who is sensitive to people’s woes  whereas Rahul Gandhi does not have such qualities as proved by his above act. The news that 3-4 truckloads of food items meant for  Utharakhand flood victims are waiting at New Delhi for his arrval for being flagged off has evoked further all-round criticism and added enough grist to BJP-Sanghparivar combines’ mill.

As a saying in Malayalam goes ‘Those who cut the plantain while the house catches fire”, had appeared on the scene of the Utharakhand floods. To make it clear, they had appeared in the form of local residents and merchants. They did not have any hesitation to fleece the mentally and physically tired pilgrims who were starving for days together and  who had to undergo untold misery. To cite an instance,  it was reported that even a small biscuit packet costing Rs.10/- was sold to the pilgrims at 20 times the actual price i.e, for Rs.200/-.To say the least, this incident had also become a shame on our country’s pride

Another shameful incident to be quoted here is the one involving Tellugu Desam and Congress MPs which took place at Kedarnath. The Telugu Desam MPs had arranged helicopters for shifting  pilgrims hailing from Andhra Pradesh to that state. When the pilgrims were about to leave, Congress MPs who had reached the spot with helicopter subsequently prevented the helicopter arranged by Telugu Desam  from leaving Kedarnath with the pilgrims. Even though the Telugu Desam MPs had argued that since they were the one who arrived Kedarnath with helicopter first, they have got a right to take the pilgrims whch fell on deaf ears. Heated exchanges followed between two groups of MPs culminating in scuffle. This hullabulu lasted for some time and finally agreement was reached between the two groups to equally divide the pilgrims and take them in the respective helicopters. Evidently, this incident had also become another slur on the name of the country.

Meanwhile certain BJP-Sangh Parivaar people had also taken this opportunity to denigrate the image of CPI(M). From 22^nd June,2013 they have started an anti-CPI(M) tirade over the issue alleging that since those involved in Utharakhand flood tragedy belong to Hindu community CPI(M) is not interested to help them whereas the party is always bent upon appeasing Muslims only. This propaganda  had communal overtones. They further raised the question as to why no fund is being raised by the party to help the flood victims, so on so forth. Whether this propaganda was launched delberately concealing the fact that CPI(M) had already started initiating action to raise an Utharakhand Relief Fund or whether it was out of ignorance is anybody’s guess. Finally when the fact regarding decision to raise Utharakhand Fund which was made public by the Polit Bureau on 21^st June,2013 was brought to their notice they hade to cut a sorry figure.

To add insult to injury, it was reported in the press a few days thereafter that a group of Sadhus returning from Kedarnath was arrested in New Delhi for stealing money and gold ornaments from the dead bodies of flood victims which also turned out to be another shame on our country’s pride.

The fact that both Congress and BJP-
Sangh Parivar combine did not have any prick of conscience to utilize Utharakhand flood tragedy to gain political mileage was nothing but a shameful matter. In a nutshell the poltical gimmicks indulged in by both as also the communal propaganda unleashed by the latter will ever remain as a black chapter in Inda’s history.

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