Srinagar: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Sunday said politics can wait and humanity should come first as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to postpone its proposed July 20 protest in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the flash floods that caused heavy loss of life and property in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Sharma, said the party had decided to defer tomorrow’s protest, which was scheduled to begin from Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk and culminate at the Civil Secretariat, as the current situation demanded humanitarian support rather than political activity.
LoP Sharma said this is not the time for political confrontation and all political parties should unite in helping the affected people.
“Politics can wait. At this moment, humanity should come first and every political party should stand with the victims,” he said.
He said the BJP’s central and J&K leadership, along with party workers, are deeply saddened by the tragedy and have resolved to stand with the affected people instead of holding demonstrations.
“As a responsible political party, we have decided to postpone the protest. This is not the time for politics when people are grieving and looking for help. Holding a protest at this stage will also hamper the administration’s rescue operations,” Sharma said.
He said the protest had only been postponed and not cancelled, adding that a fresh date would be announced after the situation normalises.
LoP Sharma said BJP teams would immediately leave for Poonch to assist victims and extend all possible support to families affected by the disaster.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are closely monitoring the situation and have spoken to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to review the ground situation.
He added that the party have also been directed to visit the affected areas, assess the situation and convey the ground realities to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Referring to the scale of the disaster, Sharma said one death had been officially reported in Rajouri while another person was feared missing, whereas 16 deaths had been reported in Poonch.
“These are not official figures. Based on information available with the party, the overall death toll in the two districts appears to be around 18,” he said.
He said flash floods had also affected Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Bani-Basohli, though no major loss of life had been reported from these districts so far.
Sharma said the damage in Rajouri is unprecedented and could be the biggest loss to property witnessed in the history of natural disasters in Jammu and Kashmir, while rescue operations are still underway.
He also expressed grief over the tragedy in Surankote, Poonch, where eight members of a family were swept away in the floods, with only three bodies recovered so far.—(KNO)
Facts Only
* Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition (LoP), addressed the press in Srinagar.
* The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) postponed its proposed July 20 protest in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The postponement was due to flash floods causing loss of life and property in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
* The scheduled protest involved gathering at Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk, and the Civil Secretariat.
* Sharma stated that humanity should come first and politics can wait during this time.
* Party leadership resolved to stand with victims instead of holding demonstrations.
* Postponement was made because protesting would hamper rescue operations.
* The protest was postponed, not cancelled; a fresh date will be announced later.
* BJP teams were directed to assist victims in Poonch and extend support.
* Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are monitoring the situation.
* The party was directed to visit affected areas to assess the situation.
* Official figures reported included one death officially in Rajouri and 16 deaths reported in Poonch, with an estimated overall toll of around 18 across both districts based on party information.
* Flash floods also affected Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, and Bani-Basohli, with no major loss of life reported from those areas so far.
* Damage in Rajouri was described as unprecedented for natural disasters in Jammu and Kashmir.
* Eight family members were swept away in floods in Surankote, Poonch, with three bodies recovered.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The narrative hinges on the tension between immediate humanitarian response and political expression during a crisis. The decision by the party leadership to suspend political mobilization in favor of disaster relief reflects a pragmatic prioritization of human welfare over political agenda, which is rhetorically strong but requires constant verification against the practical logistics of governance. The postponement serves as a strategic concession: it mitigates the risk of exacerbating ongoing logistical difficulties while simultaneously positioning the ruling entity as compassionate responders rather than obstructionists.
A deeper implication lies in how political discourse manages trauma. When catastrophic events occur, the public space often becomes polarized; leaders are pressured to choose between symbolic action and tangible aid. The party’s reaction—postponing a protest—is an attempt to reclaim agency by focusing on actionable, observable results (rescue operations) rather than abstract confrontation. However, the framing that "politics can wait" risks setting a precedent where political urgency is perpetually deferred until immediate physical danger has passed, potentially signaling a shift from crisis management to long-term policy negotiation. The presentation of death tolls as "estimated" by the party introduces an element of necessary skepticism regarding official data synchronization and public messaging during emergencies.
What questions remain are whether this calculated deferral genuinely serves the affected populations or functions primarily as a mechanism for managing immediate political optics. How do future calls for political action interface with ongoing disaster relief efforts? Does prioritizing operational necessity over visibility inadvertently create a gap in accountability for those whose needs are not immediately framed within the political narrative of the event?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a direct report or transcript of a political statement intended for news consumption, characterized by immediate reporting of events and quoted commentary.