Floods kindled sense of humanity
Rains seem have weakened in Kodagu and Kerala, but the ill effects of this torrential showers that wreaked havoc on these parts is beginning to show up now. The hinterlands were out of reach till now. But since the water level is receding, the areas that were out of bounds till now, can be connected and reached. The actual picture of damage is beginning to become clear in phases now.
Right now, it is impossible to arrive at the actual number of deaths that happened due to these floods. Hundreds have been disappeared in these waters and it is difficult to assess whether they just went missing or even died in the floods. The Kerala state government has pitched the loss at about Rs 15,000 crores. Prime Minister Modi conducted aerial survey and announced an interim relief of Rs 500 crore. The state government had sought at least Rs 2000 cr aid from the centre. The responsibility of the centre is to release at least Rs 1000 cr to aid relief operations and manage the situation since things may get out of hand if the damage control works are not initiated at war footing.
On the other hand even Kodagu is reeling under flood situation. The loss here is pitted at above Rs 15,000 cr though the revenue department has said right now the estimate is closer to Rs 7500 but then this is to say the very least. Central government has a big role to play in sending aid and announcing relief. There is already an allegation that central government ignores the south part of India, and central govt seems to be proving that right as well with its slow pace of responding to situations in Kerala and Karnataka. Another common factor is both states do not have BJP govts. PM Modi has to follow Raj Dharma on this occasion.
The central government has been spending thousands of crores on building monuments. Construction of Shivaji Park has been estimated at Rs 4000 crore, and Sardar Patel’s statue will cost a few thousands of crores. But then a natural disaster of this scale would not even deem some proper attention by the central government, let alone providing or allocating financial aid.
Shivaji faced the Moguls with the help of local inhabitants and tribals. If one could open a library to stock books that are written about his bravery and administration, that would be the biggest favour we would be doing to future generations to know about their heroes who saved their motherland from invaders. But when a government places a monument as priority against the human suffering people are facing in the eye of nature’s wrath, one would wonder about the overall ability of the government to be people’s representative. Hence instead of using public money for statues or monuments, the funds should be used to save people’s lives today and ensure they get a better future tomorrow.
Humans are bearing the brunt of their greed now in the face of destruction and other calamities. But other people’s response to this is somewhat very heartening. Looks like the floods have woken up the humans inside every person who wants to help. More than the aid announced by the government, people’s collections and donations are looking a lot bigger than that. The amount of food items that have reached Kodagu are so massive that officers have been requesting people not to send food items any more. So many volunteers have reached to help relief operations in Kerala too. No one bothers about the caste, creed or race of those who are suffering, or those who are providing the aid. Artists, writers, labourers, doctors, teachers, students, officers and engineers everyone is stretching helping hand in their own way.
Our army people are the best in their rescue operations. This is like a war man is trying to win against the nature, and humanity is winning in the meantime. People have shown they can respond with same passion even when an enemy touches the borders of our country. Gulf countries have sent their help our way. Muslims have reduced half the amount of money they were intending to use for Bakrid and have been appealing to their fellows to contribute some Kurbani money to relief operations. There are some Sangh parivar members who have been creating a divide of those affected by floods as Hindus and Muslims or Christians or of any other caste etc.
Some have spread canards saying floods happened in Kerala because they eat beef or because court ruled that women should be allowed inside Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple. We need to learn to ignore this and tread ahead. It may take a few years before Kerala comes back to normalcy. It would be everybody’s duty to oversee the disbursement of financial contributions is done efficiently to ensure every person is safe and rehabilitated. Else, this flood may help someone amass illegal wealth in the guise of helping each other.
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Misa Bharti calls PM Modi 'old', gets slammed by BJP, JD(U)
Patna, May 2: RJD president Lalu Prasad’s eldest daughter Misa Bharti on Thursday drew flak from the BJP-led NDA in Bihar for an uncharitable reference to the "old" age of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bharti, who is the RJD candidate from Patliputra, made the remarks while canvassing in the constituency where she attacked the NDA government at the Centre for bringing in the Agniveer scheme of recruitment in armed services.
In a video clip, purportedly of Wednesday, now viral on social media, the Rajya Sabha MP can be heard as saying: "What did this government do in 10 years? It brought in Agniveer. Young people fighting for the country will be retired at the age of 22. On the other hand, we have an old Prime Minister who at the age of 75 wants a third consecutive term".
Predictably, the BJP flew in rage and sought to remind the RJD leader that her father, too, was at a ripe age.
"PM Modi is much younger than Lalu Prasad. Misa Bharti should keep this in mind and think before heaping insults in this manner," said BJP national spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.
JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, whose party is headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and is an NDA partner, asked, "Does Misa Bharti speak of her father in a similar tone?".
Referring to Bharti's rival in Pataliputra, the JD(U) leader added: "She will learn her lessons. The blessings of Ram are with Ram Kripal".
Ram Kripal Yadav, a former close aide of the RJD supremo, had joined the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2014 when he defeated Bharti and was rewarded with a berth in the Union council of ministers.
Five years later, Bharti suffered defeat at the hands of her father's disgruntled close aide for a second time.
Covering areas of rural Patna, Patliputra, where voting is scheduled in the final phase, is set to witness yet another straight contest between Bharti and Yadav.
