India: Hindu Right VHP and Associates Cashing in on Relief Rehab Activity After Mountain Calamity in Uttrakhand - News reports

The Times of India

VHP volunteers rush to help Uttarakhand pilgrims
Kapil Dave, TNN Jun 20, 2013, 01.32PM IST


AHMEDABAD: While expressing shock and sorrow at the horrific events that are unfolding in Uttarakhand, VHP international working president Dr Pravin Togadia said, "VHP expresses sympathy toward relatives of those who are no more. Those who are injured and are taking treatment are being helped by local VHP and Hindu helpline workers. Soon, to help relatives and the affected, VHP and Hindu helpline will send teams from neighbouring states so transportation and treatment will be taken care of. Since the calamity is beyond normal human comprehension, all should work together to help the army and ITBP who are putting own lives at risk in rescue and relief operations. We had noticed and raised an opposition to a lot of tree burning, breaking of mountain ranges with dynamites for power projects etc. All this has contributed to the damage caused by rain."

VHP has appealed to put the affected devotees' care as the only goal at this time of tragedy and not get into political blame game. All should come together to help.

[. . .
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-20/india/40092453_1_vhp-cloud-burst-uttarakhand

o o o

The Economic Times

VHP asks all to offer help to flood victims in Uttarakhand
PTI Jun 21, 2013, 03.35PM IST

DEHRADUN: Assuring all help to people in the calamity-hit Uttarakhand, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today appealed to different organisations to come forward to provide succour to flash flood victims in the hill state.

"What has happened in Uttarakhand has the proportions of a national tragedy. I appeal to all organisations to offer whatever help they can to the affected people," VHP's international working president Pravin Togadia, who was here to review steps being taken by the organisation workers to provide relief to the victims, told reporters here.

He said he will soon launch a countrywide campaign to seek the help of different organisations in rehabilitating people, who have lost everything they had in the tragedy.

The VHP will provide a list of people really in need of help to the organisations willing to assist in the relief and rehabilitation of disaster victims in the state, he said.
[. . .]
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-21/news/40119401_1_flood-victims-the-vhp-vishwa-hindu-parishad

o o o

The Times of India

Unsung groups emerge heroes of relief operations
Surojit Gupta & Diwakar, TNN Jun 27, 2013, 06.23AM IST

DEHRADUN: They use Hanuman Chalisa or old patriotic songs from Hindi movies as their caller tunes. They are the power behind swamis and bapus and the popularity of religious channels; also the reason for the stupendous success of Hindi pulp-fi ction brands such as Jasoosi Duniya.

They are mocked for their dress sense, with heavy gold chains around their necks and for carrying "puri bhaji" abroad. They don't come to mind when the "civil society" is valorized as the alternative to the "system". When the state was represented only by the forces and the paramilitary, it's these much-derided groups that swung into action.

Members of the Tata 407 Owners' Association from Moga and Guru Ramdas Welfare Club looked disappointed when the authorities at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport refused to accept their truckloads of mineral water, biscuits, bread, soft drinks and roasted gram. They had no room for the mounds of relief material being supplied by associations of transporters, chemists, welfare associations and youth clubs from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and UP.

It was only after repeated announcements that there was no space to store the relief supplies and that they be taken to the nearby Sports College Raipur, that dera and trust representatives reluctantly reversed their trucks. On their way, they handed out cartons of mineral water, biscuits to relatives of survivors.

The change from the days when the government issued appeals for relief material — noble souls like JP Narayan marched on streets to collect donations — reflects not just the higher economic growth, but the energy that resides in "rurban India" (rural-urban).

At the relief camps, volunteers of the Durga Seva Dal, Bharat Mata Nyas, Bharat Swabhiman Nyas, Bhai Baljeet Singh's Viswa Manav Ruhani Kendra, Shri Krishnayan Desi Goraksha Golakdham, Digambar Jain Sabha vie with each other to offer assistance. There are also Manav Seva Kendras and Samitis serving hot tea with biscuits and snacks. Vegetarian chowmein comes from the All Uttarakhand Budhist Math (Tibet), cold drinks and sherbet. Puri bhaji, kadhi chawal and rajma chawal are available round the clock.

There are other groups too: From the Nehru Yuvak Kendra, ABVP, NSUI, RSS, AAI Engineers' Association and the VHP. So are large hearted souls such as Adnan Qureshi, a meat seller who uses his own funds to distribute mineral water, biscuits and snacks.