'RSS actvists were first to help stranded pilgrims in U'khand'

Bhopal, July 8: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) swayamsevaks were the first to report at the calamity - stricken areas of Uttarakhand to participate in relief and rescue operations to shift the stranded pilgrims to safer places.

This information was disclosed to media persons by Akhil Bharatiya Sah-Prachar Pramukh of RSS J Nandkumar at Vishwa Samvad Kendra here.

Interacting informally with a select group of journalists Nandkumar briefed them about the stupendous work done by RSS swayamsevaks for the relief and rescue of thousands of pilgrims stranded in the natural disaster that devastated the famous Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand a fortnight ago.

Stating that swayamsevaks had reached the affected areas within 24 hours at the affected places. Since the rescue work was to be done with helicopters, the first and foremost job was to prepare make-shift helipads. And these helipads were made by RSS men, Nandkumar said.

He also added that the very next day, RSS activists had opened 15 centers to provide relief to the stranded pilgrims with Prant Karyawah and Prant Pracharak rushing to Dehradun for formulating the scheme for relief operations.

Noted columnist Kuldip Nayyar had alleged in one of his articles that the RSS activists did not reach the affected areas to provide succor to the affected people. Expressing surprise on this observation of the columnist, Nandkumar said that the reality was exactly opposite of what he had written.

Nearly 200 villages were completely destroyed in this natural calamity. But setting their sorrow aside, the people of these villages helped the stranded pilgrims. This was the tallest example of humanity.

Such events were not given their due publicity and only incidents of loot, thefts etc. were publicized out of proportions, he alleged and said that such humane sensitivity was overlooked by the media.

On the rehabilitation front: Following the appeal of RSS Sarkaryawah Bhayyaji Joshi, the swayamsevaks were busy in rehabilitation of the people in affected areas. The entire region was divided into three parts for this purpose.

Over 5000 RSS swayamsevaks drawing from other areas of the country had reached there and helping their fellow swayamsevaks in the herculean task of rehabilitation. The RSS was also preparing a list of interested persons who were ready to stay and work in that difficult region, he added.

Expressing surprise over the government not declaring this massive natural calamity as a national disaster, Nandkumar said that when the government was rendered helpless there how could the local people feel confident to tide over this devastation. He also deplored the efforts by certain political parties to draw political mileage out of this natural disaster.

RSS Kshetra Prachar Pramukh Narendra Jain, Ramesh Vyas, VSK activists Harihar Sharma, Shailednra Singh and Brajendra Shukla were present during the program.

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