The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the postponement of its planned protest in Srinagar. The demonstration, which was scheduled to take place on Monday against the National Conference-led Union Territory administration, has been deferred in light of the severe flashflood situation affecting the Poonch and Rajouri districts. The decision underscores a shift in political priorities, emphasizing humanitarian aid over political confrontation during a time of crisis.
Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Jammu and Kashmir, addressed a press conference in Srinagar to convey the party’s decision. He stated that while politics could be addressed at a later time, the immediate concern must be for humanity. The BJP’s leadership concluded that deferring the protest was the appropriate course of action given the extensive loss of life and property caused by the recent flashfloods in the Poonch and Rajouri regions. Sharma was accompanied by other party officials, including BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, party vice-president Shehnaz Ganai, general secretaries Gopal Mahajan and Anwar Khan, and spokesperson Zorawar Singh, all of whom supported the decision to postpone the planned demonstration.
The protest was originally slated to commence at Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk and conclude at the Civil Secretariat. However, the prevailing circumstances, characterized by the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, necessitated the cancellation of political activities. Sharma emphasized that this was not the opportune moment for political discord and appealed to all political parties to unite in their efforts to support those impacted by the natural disaster. As reported by Tahir Rihat, Sharma articulated, “Politics can wait. At this moment, humanity should come first and every political party should stand with the victims.”
The central and Jammu and Kashmir leadership of the BJP, along with party workers, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. They have resolved to stand in solidarity with the affected populations rather than proceeding with demonstrations. Sharma further elaborated that as a responsible political entity, the party had opted to postpone the protest, recognizing that it was not the appropriate time for political maneuvering when people were grieving and in dire need of assistance. He also noted that holding a protest at this juncture could potentially impede the administration’s ongoing rescue operations.
Sharma clarified that the protest had been postponed, not cancelled, and that a new date would be announced once the situation stabilized and returned to normalcy. In a significant move, BJP teams are set to depart immediately for Poonch and Rajouri to provide assistance to the victims and extend all possible support to the families affected by the disaster. This commitment to on-ground support highlights the party’s immediate focus on relief efforts.
The gravity of the situation has garnered attention at the highest levels of government. The Leader of Opposition indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are closely monitoring the developments. They have reportedly been in communication with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to assess the ground situation and coordinate relief measures. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that party leaders have also been directed to visit the affected areas, evaluate the extent of the damage, and relay the ground realities to both the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration. This coordinated approach aims to ensure a comprehensive response to the crisis.
The scale of the disaster is significant, with official reports indicating one death in Rajouri and another person feared missing. In Poonch, the situation is more dire, with 16 deaths reported. Sharma cautioned that these figures might not be exhaustive, stating that based on information available with the party, the overall death toll in the two districts appears to be around 18. These numbers underscore the devastating impact of the flashfloods. While flashfloods have also affected Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, and the Bani-Basohli belt, no major loss of life has been reported from these districts thus far. Sharma described the destruction in Rajouri as unprecedented, suggesting it could rank among the most severe property losses caused by a natural disaster in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Rescue and relief operations are actively underway in all affected areas, with authorities working to provide aid and support to the affected communities.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.