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| Political parties have to refashion their approach towards Jammu | | Taking people for a ride | | Rustam
JAMMU, May 8: The people of Jammu province, Hindus and Muslims included, constitute the most neglected lot in the country. They have little or no say in the governance of the state. Their representation in the Assembly, service sector, financial institutions, including banks, and professional and technical institutions is inadequate.
Their representatives in the Assembly and Parliament have never ever cared for their political, social and economic aspirations. On the contrary, most of the them cheerfully and happily danced, and continue to dance, to the tunes of the vindictive and irrational Kashmiri leadership, which is also being supported to the hilt by the equally irresponsible political class in Delhi. They have consistently let down their constituencies and continue to take them for a ride. The attitude of the Ministers from Jammu belonging to the ruling coalition has been no different. They have repeatedly let down the people of Jammu province to keep their Kashmiri masters in a good humour to promote their own vested interests. They even defeated their movement aimed at obtaining Dogra certificates. At best, they have looked after, and continue to look after, parts of their respective constituencies. In fact, they have never ever behaved like Ministers. It has been happening particularly since 1975, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brought down the Congress Government in the state and handed over the office of Chief Minister on a platter to Sheikh Abdullah, a well-known anti-Dogra and anti-Jammu Kashmiri religious and political leader.
The truth, in short, is that their representatives in the Assembly and Lok Sabha have failed them. It's no wonder then that they, especially the young educated unemployed youth, are seething with anger. It's also no wonder then that more radicals among them have been demanding separation of Jammu province from Kashmir, saying separation from the Valley is the only panacea available. They are not only attacking the Kashmiri leadership and criticizing Jammu-based Ministers and their MLAs, MLCs and MPs, but also the central Government and central leaders of all hues. They have been accusing all of them of bartering their legitimate political and economic rights and interests to appease a section of Kashmiri society that has been at the helm of affairs since 1947. The demands in Jammu ranging from statehood to an adequately empowered regional council to regional development board to an amendment in the state constitution calculated to federalize the state polity and empower Jammu province politically and economically needs to be viewed in this context.
Those who have been demanding trifurcation/reorganization of the state or statehood and regional council cannot be criticized and questioned or dismissed as anti-Kashmir, as their demands are well-founded. They cannot be held responsible for their extreme demands. For, they have been forced to put forth such demands by their own representatives. One thing is manifestly clear: Gone are the days when their representatives would ditch them and barter their interests taking them for a ride. The political attitude of the people of Jammu province has undergone a radical change and the political leaders would recognize this change on May 16, when the election results are out. One can only hope and pray that their representatives would refashion their whole approach towards them after May 16 and play a positive role or fight for their genuine cause without harming the interests of Kashmir. The people of Jammu province have nothing against Kashmir and Kashmiri people. Their only grievance is that the political class in the state and New Delhi has never considered them part and parcel of the system. And this is a stark reality. |
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