Politicians Obstruct Relief Measures: A Report By NandaKishore.S

NandaKishore reports from Chennai:

I had been getting calls continuously that the victims need clothing material urgently. (This is because the city has become cold due to the season and the water-lashing after Sunday). Relief volunteers kept conveying that there was food material distributed regularly by various people, so food was actually aplenty. But, what they lack genuinely is clothing and blankets to save them from the cold.

My friend from Singapore is in Chennai and he wanted to contribute his might to the victims. Hearing the requests from me, he decided to buy blankets for the victims. I took him to a shop and we bought 50 blankets for distributing to the victims. I was also collecting old clothes and when I had considerable inventory, I decided to distribute the same.

This morning I had been to Foreshore Estate to reach some relief material to the victims. They were sleeping on the ground, pavements, under trees, or just about any place they could find. Authorities did not let me into the area where the victims were lodged. The reason: Sonia Gandhi was visiting that place!

Politicians make a mockery of the tragedy and the authorities (including the Police) make it worse by standing by the politicians!

The cops did not let any vehicle (including those carrying relief materials like clothing and food) into the affected area. The same thing happened at Nagapattinam yesterday when Jayalalithaa visited the place to enquire about the tragedy. Is this fair? Why should people with 'Z' category security visit areas that are �dangerous� and mar efforts by people who genuinely want to help? Why should the cops go all out to provide security to the 'elected representatives' while the 'electorate' is actually suffering? Is this why these people were voted in to power?

I was fortunate enough! A friend of mine was carrying a small vanload of material to Kalpakkam. All I had to do was to reach the material to him. All those other vehicles (very genuine folks that wanted to help by providing food & clothing) went back. I hope they have found other sources to get their material distributed. I feel so sorry that we as a nation are not standing up together at this hour of wanting.

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