FM, J&K Bank Chairman face public wrath.

Jitendra suggests open session with flood victims.

Srinagar: Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather and J&K Bank Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Tuesday faced massive public ire during a special credit and relief camp
organised by the Union Finance Ministry in Srinagar.

In presence of the MoS PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh angry people and traders climbed on the dais and accused the Finance Minister
and J&K Bank of ignoring the plight of the people and disappearing during the recent floods.

While traders applauded every word of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Omar Abdullah's senior most minister Rahim Rather was booed. A trader
interrupted Singh saying that the Omar government failed its people when floods ravaged the city.

He angrily said, "Where was Omar for first four days. Our children and elders were dying. There should be a probe on what Omar did during the floods. We will not beg, but die
of hunger. But we demand a probe against Omar Abdullah."

Jitendra Singh later assured the agitated traders that there would be proper investigation into the flood rescue and relief operations. But that didn't pacify the traders
as they held more protests against the state government.

“The Finance Minister Rahim Rather had himself disappeared with his family during the floods, what help will he offer to us now.

Can you please ask Finance Minister to tell you where has all the relief material that center sent gone to”, an agitated citizen asked MoS PMO, who patiently listened to the
aggrieved person and asked the security personnel not to pull him away.

”It has been more than one and a half months since the floods came. Can you tell us what has happened to Lal Chowk or when will be it cleaned. Rather sahib you have to answer to us, for too long have you enjoyed the comfort”, a trader from Lal Chowk shouted at the Finance Minister.

Coming down heavily on J&K Bank and its Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad a group of people alleged that the Bank was only benefitting a few corporate houses outside J&K who had done nothing but swindled away Kashmiris’ hard earned money.”

These two (Finance Minister and J&K Bank Chairman) behave as
if they are the Chief Minister and DC. We are being treated like beggars at J&K Bank. They can’t help us in anyway; they are only after looting people. J&K Bank is our bank but we are the biggest sufferers”, they shouted.

The red faced Rahim Rather was later whisked away by security personnel who sensed the situation might get out of control.

Earlier during his speech Dr. Jitendra Singh blamed the state government for the floods
much to the discomfort of state government representatives but to the delight to public who cheered his statement.” I know what has
happened to relief material. I appeal the state government to distribute the relief material through mohalla and masjid committees”, MoS PMO said.

“I have two suggestions for the state government. First, they should have an open session where the affected people can highlight their grievances and the government
addresses them on spot,” MoS in the PMs Office Jitendra Singh added.

The minister suggested the state government to have a session with the people to listen to and address their grievances and involve representatives of civil society in distribution of relief.

“The government should involve the
representatives of civil society in the distribution of the relief. The representatives can be of any party, who stand above any political considerations,” he added.

He said this, way representatives would identify the affected people and there would be no allegations of nepotism against the government.

He assured all possible help to Jammu and Kashmir and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that there will be no shortcoming by the Centre in
providing all possible help to the people affected by the floods. “We will do whatever is needed to help the people of the state,” Union
Minister of State for PMO, said.

The Union minister said although the Centre is doing everything it could to help the people of the state but there was still criticism by the
“habitual critics”.