Thursday, August 7, 2008

No cake in Kashmir, no bread in Jammu

While Kashmiris may have felt a pinch due to the ongoing struggle, it's the people of Jammu, who have been plagued by the artificial scarcity and shortages of food and medicines. But no effort has been made by the authorities to provide relief..

MEDIA IN Jammu and Kashmir and India is full of reports that Kashmir Valley is short of medicines, bare essentials and food items due to the ongoing agitation. But none of them have taken pains to report about the real situation in Jammu, where the state has let loose a reign of terror and agitation has been going on for last 37-days.

Truth must be published and the facts are that while Kashmiris may have felt a pinch due to the ongoing struggle, it’s the people of Jammu, who have been plagued by the artificial scarcity and shortages of food and medicines.

All the supplies of food and other articles of common use have been restricted by the administration. While the curfew has failed to dampen the agitating masses, it has brought misery to the common people of the region.

The heart of the state is bleeding for the poor Kashmiris, but the people of Jammu are being treated as step-children both by the local government and Union of India.
There is shortage of food grains, vegetables, rice and other commodities in all the markets of Jammu, particularly in the city. But no effort has been made by the authorities to provide bare necessities of life to the hapless people.

While Kashmir may have seen shortage of medicines, the situation in Jammu is worse. Police has ensured that no chemist and drug shop remains open and those, which were open earlier have been forcibly closed.

Shortage of cooking gas and kerosene has hit the people very hard and the situation has turned real bad, a local said. “We are being punished for raising our voice and supporting the national mainstream,” he added.

While Jammu is reeling under shortages, the state government is using all its resources and the might of Indian Army to ensure that Kashmir Valley is well fed and well stocked.
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“If this is not discrimination, then what is?” asked Onkar, a resident of Jammu, adding there is shortage of medicines and people are suffering for want of the same.
It is pertinent to mention that all exit and entry points to the City of Temples have been blocked. There has been no fresh inflow of food items, milk and vegetables in the city as the administration in its zeal to crush the movement has failed to provide any succour to Jammuites.
“Instead of making a humanitarian gesture and winning the hearts of people, the state has let loose repression,” said Onkar.

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