Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 19: The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) has finally realized that the status of statehood alone could end Jammu people's woes and empowers them to manage their own social, cultural, economic, political, administrative and constitutional affairs themselves in their own interest, as also in the larger national interest. Its leadership took decades to discard its vague reorganization slogan and adopt a clear-cut political goal - status of statehood for what it calls Jammu Pradesh, including Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under the Pakistani illegal occupation since 1947-1948. Its senior leaders took the pledge on October 17 that they will not take rest until they achieved their goal and achieved Jammu's independence from imperialist Kashmir. There are many social and political groups in Jammu, including the BSP, which also vouch for the status of statehood for Jammu province.
Before October 16, 2015, the Panthers leadership used to demand on occasions reorganization of the state polity in a manner that gives the people of Jammu region separate Chief Minister, separate Assembly, separate Directorates and separate Public Service Commission. It also used to say that it would have no objection of one Governor acts as constitutional head both of Jammu Pradesh and Kashmir Valley. It would also vouch for one High Court for both Jammu Pradesh and Kashmir Valley. The fact is that the Panthers leadership refrained from using the statehood slogan for reasons best known to it. The politically conscious people of Jammu province hardly appreciated the Panthers Party's reorganization demand as they considered it vague. They also used to term the Panthers leadership "inconsistent". They by and large stand for the state's trifurcation into Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh states, saying they constitute distinct political units representing different ideologies - Jammu and Ladakh represent the Indian ideology in this part of the state and Kashmiri leadership stands for a regime outside the Indian political and constitutional organization. The Kashmiri leadership stands for limited or no accession at all with India. It is not a secret.
It appears the developments which unfolded in the state during the past more than seven months have motivated the Panthers leadership to come out with a clear-cut political slogan - the slogan of statehood. It now feels convinced that the time is ripe for demanding complete separation. It has also come to believe, perhaps rightly, that there exists a complete political vacuum in Jammu province and that the ignored and discriminated people of Jammu province have lost their faith in the parties like the BJP, the Congress, the NC and similar other Kashmir-centric outfits.
Indeed, the people of Jammu province have distanced themselves both from the BJP, which is in the government, and the Congress, which is in the opposition. As for the NC and similar other Kashmir-based and Valley-centric parties, less said the better. Suffice to say that they have limited areas of influence, which is also confined to the areas where the non-Hindus are somewhat in majority. There are six constituencies in Jammu province which are Muslim-dominated. Three are in Poonch district, two in Rajouri district and one in Ramban district and these are the constituencies where the parties like the NC and the Congress play communal card to win election.
The Panthers leadership is aware of the Jammu province's demographic profile. Unlike the BJP, it is not considered "communal" by bulk of the Muslim population in Jammu province. Significantly, the Panthers leadership has - apart from organizing several important political activities after the formation of the coalition Government -- crisscrossed most of the districts during these past more than seven months to assess the ground situation. So, it can be said that the Panthers on October 17 took a decision after weighing all the pros and cons. The Panthers Party could turn tables on the BJP and the Congress if it doesn't deviate from its stand. The people of Jammu province do want a regional party believing that no national party can regenerate their socio-economic and political life. They are right. For, the local leadership of the national parties looks towards their respective high command for instructions and directions and they follow them honestly overlooking their responsibilities towards their respective constituencies in Jammu province. |
