Flood protest: Omar Abdullah & Mufti Mohammed Sayeed trade charges over inaction and arrests

SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Valley was shut down on Monday following a protest against the government to mark the first anniversary of the 2014 floods. Chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his predecessor Omar Abdullah traded charges over ‘inaction’ and arrests.

The government detained separatists, trade unionists and heads of business organisations, who had called the strike. Abdullah called Sayeed a dictator for ordering the arrest of business leaders.

"In a series of night raids, Mufti Syed (sic) has ensured the arrest of all trade body leaders. Their crime? Unhappiness over flood relief," Abdullah tweeted. The chief minister hit back without naming Abdullah. He said he was deeply saddened by ‘puerile comments’ of those who procrastinated when in power.

"They were primarily responsible for the colossal damage to life and property," Sayeed said, while chairing a Cabinet meeting in Srinagar on Monday. Sayeed said the rehabilitation of flood affected was a work in progress. "There are still gaps in the entire rehabilitation and reconstruction process which needs to be filled at the earliest," he said.

The Centre and state government had promised a relief and rehabilitation package for J&K.