09-05-2023: Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) has called on the Jammu and Kashmir administration to provide airlifted essential commodities to the stranded nomads of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities due to unexpected snowfall and rain in the remote belts of the hilly terrains in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement, Azad expressed his concern for those who are stranded in upper reaches such as Margantop Wardwan Valley, Dakshum Sinthantop, Pahalgam Chandanwardi, Peer Ki Gali, Banihal Upper Reaches, Warwan, Nandimarg, Sonamarg, Patnitop, Paddar, Mardwa, Mahu Mangit, and other areas, running short of essential commodities.
He appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, to intervene on humanitarian grounds and order the airlifting of essential commodities to the stranded nomads.
Azad also raised the issue of compensation for farmers who have suffered crop loss due to hailstorms in various parts of Kashmir valley. He urged the government to compensate farmers for their losses of mustard oil and paddy grains and provide them with paddy seeds to replant their crops. He emphasized that the government must stand by the farmers who have been hit hardest by adverse weather conditions and ensure that they are adequately compensated.