New Delhi: The men and women in olive green and their counterparts in the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and National Disaster Response Force, who have never had a very healthy relationship with the people of Kashmir Valley, are putting their lives in danger while trying to rescue and provide relief to the flood-hit residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite being the target of terrorists, separatists and always viewed with suspicion by the local populace, the Indian Army launched the relief and rescue efforts on a war footing and have come as a saviour to the people.
Speaking to CNN-IBN Senior Editor Anubha Bhonsle at an Army run relief camp, a team of female golfers from Pakistan, who were stranded in Kashmir said, "We have been rescued by the Indian Army. They are doing a great job." It was unthinkable just a week ago. Forget the Pakistanis, not even the Kashmiris would have praised Indian Army just a week back.
Indian Army is much maligned in Kashmir, the most militarized zone in the entire world. Indian defence forces are being seen as 'invaders' or 'the occupiers' by the local population. The separatists have been systematically attacking the Indian Army and maligning it for almost 30 years. A majority of the Kashmiris are also of the same view.
But, the devastating floods seem to have changed that perception or mindset. The same Army and other security forces are now being hailed as saviours of the marooned Kashmiris. Everybody is sending distress messages to the Army pleading with the soldiers to rescue them.
The rescue and relief operations actually started only after the Army took charge of it. The local state government led by the chief minister Omar Abdullah was clueless till the flood water entered the state capital Srinagar. According to the local people, the state government's reaction was too disappointing.
The Army which has a huge presence across the state immediately swung into action. It has so far rescued more than 50,000 people and wants to rescue everyone stuck there. It is also airdropping food packets and other essential things in far flung areas.
The Army personnel on the ground are also reaching out to the people stuck at various places in Srinagar and other parts by boats and by road. They are taking the stranded people to safer places.
Omar Abdullah, who is under fire for 'inaction', said, "No state government has planes and helicopters. It has to be from the Centre. It is a national disaster."
The separatists, who work under the banner of All Party Hurriyat Conference, have completely vanished from the scene. The same leaders who claim that Kashmir can't be a part of India and they are the sole representatives of all Kashmiris are missing in action instead of helping the marooned people.
Former Union minister and the Congress leader Professor Saifuddin Soz was heckled by angry people in Srinagar. They accused him and other politicians of doing nothing to rescue the people. The same story is being repeated all over Kashmir.
The local police force is also doing little. Most of the police establishments are under water and the equipments have also been damaged. The morale is also very low among them while the Army men are doing a great job by risking their own lives at some places. They are working non-stop.
The people in rest of India are hoping that the floods will serve as an eye opener for those Kashmiris who advocate freedom from India. They hope that the Kashmiris will now realise that only the rest of India can protect them and the anti-India sentiments will disappear slowly.
However, the vested separatist interests are unlikely to accept their defeat. They are expected to start the usual anti-India tirade once the situation in across Kashmir returns to normal.
The good thing is Indian Army has won the praise of ordinary Kashmiris for the first time since insurgency started. Hope, it stays like this.
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