JKLF does its bit for tsunami victims

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front organised a blood donation camp in Srinagar on Thursday for victims of the tsunami disaster.

Till afternoon, JKLF volunteers and locals donated 100 points of blood and Rs one lakh. The donors included Hindus and Sikhs.

Talking to journalists at the camp, held at Maisuma, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yassin Malik said, "We have organised such humanitarian efforts in the past as well. In 1993, we organised a similar relief camp for the earthquake victims of Latur in Maharashtra. Later, we held camps to collect relief for the quake victims in Pakistan and also for the victims of 9/11 tragedy in America."

He also said as 'sufferers of conflict', Kashmiris understood the pain and trauma of fellow sufferers better than the anyone else.

"It is part of our culture to identify with the suffering of humanity, irrespective of nationalities and religions," Malik said.

While from the Jammu and Kashmir government there has been an announcement of Rs 1 crore towards relief for tsunami victims, the JKLF's effort is the first exercise by a non-government body in the state to help the affected.

It also assumes significance in view of the fact that the JKLF is a separatist party fighting for independence from both India and Pakistan.