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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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
