By TCN News,
Mumbai: A condolence meeting was organised to condole the loss of life and property in Uttrakhand jointly by Urdu Markaz and Uttrakhand Literary and Cultural Forum. The speakers condoled the death of more than a thousand people and expressed grief on the loss of property worth billions of rupees.
Speaking on this occasion Convener of Urdu Marathi Sahitya Forum Manohar Rangpise said that each & every Indian is with the people of Uttarakhand in this hour of grief. Social Activistl Ansari Mahmood Pervez said that the army has done a commendable job and that should be congratulated. He also said that the hilly areas and the hills should be protected otherwise the ecological balance will be disturbed.
Editor of Urdu Daily Hindustan, Sarfaraz Arzu while expressing his deep sorrow over the natural calamity in Uttrakhand, said that if development activities in Uttrakhand are stopped then what will happen to the poor people of the state. He suggested that the government should construct special roads for pilgrims like the roads constructed by Japan for Buddhist pilgrims in India. Senior Journalist Wajiuddin while expressing his sorrow and deep anguish said that although the majority of the victims were non Muslims but Muslims have came forward to help their non-Muslim brethren which are a slap on the face of communal forces.
President of Sir Syed Awareness Forum & Senior Faculty at Aligarh Muslim University, Dr. Shakeel Samdani said that the main issue before the nation is the ‘insensitiveness’ of the politicians, bureaucrats and big wigs of society. He said that during Gujarat riots a pregnant women was tortured brutally and her foetus was taken out, there after she was gang raped and burnt alive, regarding this a senior minister said in parliament that this sort of things are common, which was disgusting, this type of attitude & mindset is affecting the entire nation. Disasters, natural calamities, earthquakes, floods, etc occur every year in our country but politicians and bureaucrats have not taken any lesson.
The tragedy of Uttrakhand will be forgotten within weeks and after some months as we people are suffering from ‘Amnesia’. He also expressed his surprise that a Chief Minister tried to promote & market himself as the most efficient administrator of the country by asserting that he and his officers evacuated 15,000 people within one single day which is a blatant lie. Dr. Samdani further said that had he been so efficient why he could not prevent communal disturbance in his state a decade ago. He also expressed his surprised over the criminal and inhuman acts by local goondas and other people. He said that unless the political class and the bureaucrats become sensitive and honest towards their duties, no drastic change can take place in our country. He congratulated Urdu Markaz and Uttrakhand Literary and Cultural Forum for organising this program to express their anguish and share the grief of the affected people.
S.P. Chamola of Uttrakhand Mahasangh said that in Mumbai we should prepare a disaster management team for such type of disaster & the new generation should be encouraged to join such team. Co convener of Uttrakhand Literary and Cultural Forum Sumita Keswal said that due to environmental insensitiveness of people these things are occurring.
The other speakers who spoke on this occasion were M.A Khalid, Farid Batatawala, Saeed Bhai, Mrs Sundaryal, Abdul Ahad and Ahmad Wasi. In the last a resolution was adopted in which the death of army personal was condoled. The meeting condemned the increase of black money which is being used for developing the tourism industry. The government was urged to take long term measures for preventing such type of disasters. The resolution also welcomed the initiative taken by Urdu Markaz and Uttrakhand literary forum. The program was conducted by Farid Khan and vote of thanks was proposed by the Director of Urdu Markaz Advocate Zubair Azmi, there after two minute silence was observed in memory of those killed in the disaster. The condolence meeting was attended by eminent social workers, media persons, literary personalities and social activists.