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| Jammu & Kashmir: A tale of two provinces | | |
RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 12: The story of Jammu province is totally different. It is powerless. Nothing concrete is done bring Jammu at par with the highly developed Kashmir. It is consistently discriminated against at all levels and in all spheres - administrative units, service sector, power generation, road connectivity, hospitals, schools, bridges, agriculture, sericulture, floriculture, electric supply, safe drinking water, tourism and industry. Whatever progress it has achieved and is achieving, it is primarily because of the private effort, as also because it is very fortunate in having in the Trikuta Hills the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and the world famous Shri Raghunath Temple, which have become a source of livelihood for many, many people of Jammu province because nearly ten million devotees visit this shrine and temple every year to pay obeisance. They are the backbone of Jammu's economy and they also cater to an extent the financial needs of Kashmir as they pay various kinds of taxes, which go straight to the government exchequer and money in government exchequer means money for Kashmir. This is what the people of Jammu feel.
There is no official patronage: only lip service, only hollow slogans. Everyone knows it. Official statistics leave no one in any doubt. Though the Jammu province has several ministers in the state government, most of them have not only been behaving as ministers of their respective constituencies, but they are always more than willing to keep Kashmir in good humour. At times, it appears that they represent Kashmir. Most of them find themselves helpless and constrained. Since they want to enjoy the loaves and fishes of office, they try their level best to keep the Kashmir-based executive head of the state happy. Sometimes, they do assert. They assert when they feel threatened or when they feel that steps are being taken to weaken their control over patronage.
For example, they asserted when attempt was made to empower the executive head of the state to post and transfer deputy commissioners and certain categories of police officials. They assert when they feel that certain policies of the state government are alienating their constituency in Jammu province. Take, for example, their common cause with the people of Jammu on issues relating to Shri Amarnath Yatra, women rights and inter-district recruitment. They made common cause when left with no other option and when pressure from the below was tremendous and mounting. Initially, they were with the government.
Though Jammu has its representatives in the highest law-making body, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, their number is inadequate. They are just 37 in a house of 87, notwithstanding the fact that the number of voters in this province is more as compared to the prosperous but bleeding, weeping and turbulent Kashmir and, hence, just not able to fight for the genuine cause of the constituencies they represent. Given the nature of the state polity, they always think it prudent to maintain good relations with the real rulers - all Kashmir-based - in order to get their petty works done, including a few transfers and postings. They are totally dependent on the real rulers, who control the purse and patronage.
The system is such; the environment is such; and the attitude of New Delhi is also such. New Delhi looks towards Kashmir because it matters in the capital's corridors of power; because there are elements who lobby for the Valley; because there are elements who tell New Delhi that if it wishes to have peace in Kashmir, then it has to be overgenerous towards Kashmir, failing which the Valley would snap all of its ties with India and go out of it. It is only rarely that New Delhi looks towards Jammu. It looks towards Jammu when it feels that the unrest in Jammu is likely to create more problems in Kashmir. And, the rulers in New Delhi feel so, they try to conciliate Jammu by giving it a lollipop and it is always coupled with a suggestion: Don't take to path of agitation in the national interest and agitation in Jammu would mean more "alienation in Kashmir."
So, Jammu province is devoid of any support from any quarter. And, yet Jammu is part and parcel of India; yet Jammu wants to shape and mould its destiny within India and under the Indian Constitution; yet Jammu opposes Pakistan and its agents tooth and nail; yet it constitutes a very stable constituency of India in the otherwise troubled-state; yet it is only rarely that Jammu witnesses curfew and police-crowd clashes; yet Jammu is making progress by dint of hard work; yet Jammu is prospering by putting in all kinds of sincere efforts; yet Jammu is quite happy; yet Jammu province is leading a peaceful life and carrying on economic and other activities in a dignified manner and unhindered; yet Jammu is an oasis of secularism where people belonging to different religious denominations live peacefully and share each other's joy and sorrow; and yet the streets and roads of Jammu are full of life.
Jammu has evolved a methodology that is helping it; that is coming to its rescue. At the same time, however, it is determined to obtain its due share in the state's political, economic and social processes. It has become part of the problem that needs to be tackled. No one can take Jammu for granted. This is Jammu. (To be continued)
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