Omar ‘refuses’ Rs 6 Cr donation from Kejriwal’s AAP

SRINAGAR — At a time when Kashmir needs all help to overcome the prevailing flood situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has refused to take a donation of Rs 6 crores from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP National spokesperson Sanjay Singh, who is currently in Valley, said that he has made several attempts to meet Omar Abdullah but to no avail, the daily Rising Kashmir reported.

“I don’t know what is the problem. We are trying our best to get in touch with J&K Chief Minister for rehabilitation purposes, but every time we are being told that he is busy and cannot meet us,” he said.

Singh said AAP has collected Rs 6 crores across the country for rehabilitation of flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir. “We want to help Kashmiri people but the State government is not cooperating. We have collected Rs 6 crores and we don’t know why Omar is hesitant to take the money,” he said.

Singh, who has been camping in Kashmir for the last two weeks, has visited many flood-hit areas to take stock of the situation. “I have visited many flood-affected areas of Kashmir. There is major destruction everywhere. People have lost everything. The majority of the orchard trees and paddy fields are destroyed in floods. It requires a herculean effort to overcome the situation,” he said.

According to a report, the floods have caused a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the apple crop in Kashmir, threatening the collapse of the horticulture industry in the state. The worst-hit districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Sopore are the largest producers of apples and extensive damage has been reported there.

Singh said the J&K Government should provide immediate compensation to farmers, whose orchards and paddy fields are destroyed in the floods. “I think farmers are the most affected people. I visited many areas in Srinagar and south Kashmir, where the situation is very grim. The State government should provide immediate compensation to these farmers.”

Singh said there should be at least a six-month package for the rehabilitation process from the State government.