Public response to strike is wake-up call: CPI-M

The CPI(M) today termed the people's response to the strike on the first anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir's worst floods, as "a wake-up call" and said the Centre and state governments must act to address the post-flood rehabilitation issues or face the consequences.
"The public response to the strike is a wake-up call. The central and the state government must now settle the post flood rehabilitation issues or otherwise be ready to face the consequences," CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said here.
He regretted the "iron fist" approach adopted by the state government to curb the protests called by opposition National Conference, separatist groups and trade bodies to protest 'inadequate' rehabilitation in the aftermath of the deluge that caused massive destruction besides leaving nearly 300 dead.

"The resolve of people to show their anger through a peaceful strike was unprecedented. This general strike being massive and widespread indicates that all is not well with the flood-hit people who in most of the cases are still craving for interim compensation," the MLA from Kulgam said.
The CPI(M) leader demanded that the central government acts on the proposal mooted out by the previous government for rehabilitation of flood-hit people in Kashmir.
He censured the PDP-BJP coalition government for its so-called 'agenda of alliance' that had promised to rehabilitate the victims of the floods.
"Even after a year, the rehabilitation of flood-hit people is a long way to go. Except for passing the buck, both the central as well as the state government have so far failed to act on the ground," Tarigami said.