Government focusing on providing relief to J&K people, not going after militants

New Delhi/Srinagar: In a move that could go a long way in soothing a testy populace, reeling from the shock of floodwaters destroying their lives and property, the central government said its main focus was on providing succour to people affected by the worst-ever floods in 109 years, not going after militants. “We have closed our eyes.

We are not looking towards the separatists. We are determined to provide relief to people, no matter how difficult the situation is. The relief and rescue mission will continue,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi.

Some 400 of the 1,200 villages affected in Kashmir and at least 300 of the 1,100 villages in Jammu, have been completely submerged. Thus far, 1.3 lakh people have been rescued by the army as Kashmiri volunteers began to fan out to distribute food and water.