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| PM's Kashmir visit: Lop-sided approach to create more problems | | |
RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 22: Six, The people of Jammu province, who occupy more than 26,000 sq kilo meter land area of the state and constitutes almost half of the state's population, have all along vehemently opposed the politics of separatism and autonomy. On the other hand, they have been consistently struggling for their full merger with the national mainstream since 1947 and had in the process suffered immense political and economic losses not only at the hands of the Kashmiri rulers but also at the hands of New Delhi.
It would not be out of place to mention here that the watchword and battle-cry of the people of Jammu in 1947 was the state's full integration into India and the application of the Indian Constitution to the state in its entirety, barring minus Article 370. Their watchword and battle-cry remain the same even now. There is no dilution in their stand on India and the Indian Constitution. It would be no exaggeration if it is said that Kashmir is within India only because of the people of Jammu province. It was because of their remarkable role that the state was brought under the ambit of hundreds of Central laws. It was the people of Jammu who forced New Delhi to dilute Article 370 and it was they and they alone who did not allow New Delhi to accept the Kashmiri leadership's demand for autonomy.
And, what the people of Jammu did during June-August 2008 to defeat the regressive forces in Kashmir was an outstanding example that indicated their commitment to the nation and secular and democratic values. What they did during that period could be compared with any of the epoch-making movements in the world. In fact, some of the keen-watchers described the Jammu movement as the "mother of all movements" and went on to say: "To save India, follow Jammu".
The fact of the matter is that the people of Jammu province who have also been struggling for their empowerment and fighting against the discriminatory policies since 1947 will not accept the position of servitude. They will accept only that solution that recognizes them as a major, major problem and one of the most important factors in the state's political situation. The most significant aspect of the whole situation is that the people of Jammu province do not at all depend on the Jammu-based leaders. They lead the Jammu-based leaders. They themselves are capable of taking on and defeating the anti-India and anti-Jammu forces. In short, they are for a dispensation that is of them, by them and for them and that is strictly within India.
Seven, the attitude of the people of Ladakh towards the Kashmiri leadership and New Delhi is no different. They, too, like the people of Jammu province, hate the Kashmiri domination and the politics of separatism and autonomy. Similarly, they, like the people of Jammu province, are struggling hard to link their fate with New Delhi for better for worse and they are also for a separate dispensation. So much so, they have on occasions more than one publicly stated that they would look towards China in case New Delhi thinks in terms of throwing in their lot with the Kashmiri leadership. No one can take them for a ride.
These are some of the ground realities in the state and cannot be brushed aside. In other words, the task of the Prime Minister is one of great complexity. He has to suitably adjust numerous and conflicting claims. He just cannot afford to recognize the claim of one and ignore other claims. Likewise, he cannot afford to impose the will of one section of Kashmiri society on other sections or impose the will of one region on other regions of the state. For, such an approach would create more problems than resolving the existing ones. It is hoped that the Prime Minister would adopt a holistic approach to the issues facing different people inhabiting different regions. This is the only option available. (Concluded)
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