Srinagar, July 19 (KINS): Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Sunday said that “politics can wait and humanity must come first” as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) postponed its proposed July 20 protest in Jammu and Kashmir following the devastating flash floods that caused widespread loss of life and property in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, accompanied by BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, BJP State Vice President Shehnaz Gania, General Secretaries Gopal Mahajan and Anwar Khan, and spokesperson Zorawar Singh, Sharma said the party had decided to defer its protest, which was scheduled to begin at Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk, and culminate at the Civil Secretariat, as the current situation called for humanitarian assistance rather than political activity.
He said this was not the time for political confrontation and urged all political parties to unite in supporting the flood-affected families.
“Politics can wait. At this moment, humanity should come first, and every political party should stand with the victims,” Sharma said.
He said the BJP’s central leadership, J&K unit, and party workers were deeply saddened by the tragedy and had unanimously decided to stand with the affected people instead of holding demonstrations.
“As a responsible political party, we have decided to postpone the protest. This is not the time for politics when people are grieving and looking for help. Holding a protest at this stage could also hamper the administration’s rescue operations,” he said.
Sharma clarified that the protest had only been postponed, not cancelled, and that a fresh date would be announced once the situation normalises.
He said BJP teams would immediately leave for Poonch and Rajouri to assist the victims and extend all possible support to the affected families.
Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were closely monitoring the situation and had spoken to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to review the ground situation.
He added that party leaders had also been directed to visit the affected areas, assess the damage, and convey the ground realities to both the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Referring to the scale of the disaster, Sharma said one death had been officially reported in Rajouri while another person was feared missing. In Poonch, he said, around 16 deaths had been reported.
“These are not official figures. Based on information available with the party, the overall death toll in the two districts appears to be around 18,” he said.
He added that flash floods had also affected Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Bani-Basohli, although no major loss of life had been reported from those districts so far.
Sharma said the destruction in Rajouri was unprecedented and could be among the worst property losses caused by a natural disaster in Jammu and Kashmir, while rescue operations were still in progress.
He also expressed grief over the tragedy in Surankote, Poonch, where eight members of a family were reportedly swept away in the floods, with only three bodies recovered so far.(KINS)
‘Politics can wait,humanity must come first’: BJP postpones July 20 protest amid J&K flash floods, says Sunil Sharma
