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| Jammu sitting on volcano of discontent | | Burning issues | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 5: The people of Jammu region voted for the BJP in large numbers in the last assembly elections and it won 25 out of 37 seats. It happened for the first time. They had hoped that the BJP, if came into power in J&K, would undo the past wrongs and ensure that they would obtain what they deserved as part and parcel of the state. But it did not happen. What happened was to the contrary.
The result is widespread discontent and dissatisfaction across the Jammu region with parties like the Panthers Party demanding dismissal of the present dispensation as well as division of the state or its reorganization saying this is the only panacea available to the people of the region to lead a dignified and secure life. Between April and August, Jammu region witnessed a massive revolt against the BJP and the issue that brought the people of the region on to the roads was the shifting of the sanctioned All-India Institute of Medical Sciences for Jammu to Kashmir. The people across the region observed 8-day bandh, organized two massive candlelight protest marches and one a very largely-participated in Lalkar Rally. The people repeatedly charged the BJP with "cheating and betraying" them. The prevailing situation in Jammu region was such that no BJP minister or MLA or MP could muster courage to venture out of his house without a foolproof security cover. The situation is no different even today.
The BJP denied Jammu region its due share in the state cabinet. The PDP manipulated 12 out of 17 berths in the Cabinet and also took away all the portfolios with political weight and considerable funds. The people of Jammu region were forced to remain content with only Power Development, Public Health, Medical, Transport and Industry Departs, all in a shambles.
The BJP and the PDP came out with an agenda of alliance which reduced the people of Jammu region to a nullity for all practical purposes, as it contained everything that suited only Kashmir and the people its houses as well as separatists.
Constitution of delimitation commission was their long-pending demand. The BJP in the agenda of alliance did talk about delimitation commission but it was circumscribed by a condition that was against the spirit and intent of the Representation of Peoples Act. It said it would be constituted as "required by law". The existing law as per the 2002 amendment to the J&K Representation of Peoples Act, 1957, says delimitation commission could be appointed only after the census operation to be undertaken after 2026. In other words, it suggested that it could be appointed only after 2031 subject to the condition that the government of the time would take a final call on the issue. Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies were delimited after 2002 across the nation but no such exercise was undertaken to redress the grievance of the people of Jammu region. They believe, and rightly so, that they would remain second class citizens and their plight would remain unchanged unless they got due share in the assembly based on the criteria laid down by the RPA - land area, nature of terrain and population/voters. The area of Jammu region is two-time that of Kashmir and bulk of it is inaccessible and treacherous and the number of voters in Jammu region is almost equal to that of Kashmir and still Kashmir returns 46 members and Jammu only 37 to the assembly. It was way back in 1995-1996 that delimitation was done in J&K.
Jammu region houses more than one lakh refugees from Pakistan. They have been residing in different parts of Jammu region since 1947 and they do not enjoy any citizenship rights like others in the state. They are Indian nationals but not state subjects. They do not have the right to vote in the assembly and local bodies' elections, right to job under state government, right to immovable property in the state, right to bank loan, right to higher and technical and professional education. The BJP had promised citizenship rights to them both in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, but the agenda of alliance only talks about their "sustenance and livelihood" as if they are slaves and beggars. The plight of refugees from Pakistan-occupied-J&K is also very miserable. They and the refugees from West Pakistan constitute nearly 20 per cent of the region's population.
The youth of Jammu region are a dissatisfied lot. The reason is that the unemployment rate in this region, which pays more than 70 per cent revenue to the state exchequer every year, is more than 69 per cent, as against less than 30 per cent in Kashmir. The number of government employees from Jammu region is approximately one lakh as compared to more than 3.5 lakh from Kashmir.
Jammu region is as salubrious as Kashmir as it has beautiful vales, dales and meadows, but it was never brought on the tourist map of the state. With the result the people inhabiting mountainous areas of the region consistently complain utter neglect of their economic aspirations. More than 80 per cent of the tourism budget is spent in Kashmir. Jammu gets only crumbs.
The people of Jammu region are also unhappy with the BJP for other reasons. They have all along fought for the unity and integrity of the country, as also for the unity and integrity of their own very distinct region, known for liberal values, spirit of accommodation, peaceful co-existence and brotherhood. But the agenda of alliance virtually seeks to trifurcate the region on religious and ethnic lines. It seeks to separate the erstwhile Doda district (now constitute Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts) and Poonch and Rajouri districts from the plains of Jammu. If it happens, the nation would witness horrible situation as it witnessed in 1947 in the wake of communal partition of India. The whole approach of the framers of the agenda of alliance was communal and it has the potential of pitting the followers of one religion against the followers of another. The fact is that the agenda of alliance has turned out to be a curse for the people of Jammu region in particular and the nation in general.
These are some of the burning issues in Jammu region. The situation as it prevails today in the region is highly volatile. It is sitting on a volcano of discontent. A national intervention in Jammu region has become imperative. Its hurt feelings have to be assuaged without losing a moment. |
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