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| Jammu & Kashmir: A tale of two provinces | | |
RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 13: Thus, the tale of the state's two main provinces is one of dissimilarities-Kashmir is powerful, yet unhappy and weeping, and Jammu powerless and yet happy in a sense. While Kashmir remains always disturbed, Jammu by and large remains peaceful and, at the same time, puts in all possible efforts so that it could survive, compete and prosper without any help from any quarter because it has been left with no other option.
However, to say all this is not to suggest that there are only dissimilarities between the two regions. There is a similarity as well between the two regions: leaders of Kashmir and leaders of Jammu are vertically divided into several groups. In other words, if the Kashmiri leaders are a divided lot, the story of Jammu-based leaders is no different. In Kashmir, leaders have been treading different paths and demanding the state's merger with Pakistan, independence both from India and Pakistan, self-rule and autonomy and since long. However, they are one as far as their stand on Jammu is concerned. All of them want to impose their will on the Jammu province. They want Jammu to remain part of Kashmir. The reasons are obvious. One of the reasons is that Jammu is Kashmir's great source of revenue.
The most striking aspect is that neither the so-called mainstream Kashmiri leaders are one as far as their stand on the future status of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned nor are the Kashmiri separatists one as far as the separatist platform is concerned. They are operating from different platforms. The NC and the PDP leaders do not see eye to eye with each other. The level of hatred between leaders of these two "mainstream" Kashmir-based parties can be gauged from the manner in which the PDP president boycotted the July 12 all-party meet, convened by the beleaguered Chief Minister and former NC president. The NC and the PDP leaders are after each other's blood. Their one-point programme is to demolish each other politically and grab each other's constituency.
Similar is the story of the separatists. They are out-and-out rabidly anti-India. All of them want to get the state out of India and still they refuse to come on one platform. Like the "mainstream" NC and the PDP leaders, they are also after each other's blood; they also work at cross-purposes. Sometimes, it appears that they would eliminate each other. Sometimes, it appears that Kashmir is in for a civil war. To be more precise, leaders belonging to different political and separatist formations will never make common cause with one another because they see in their unity their own destruction. Perhaps, they have evolved a new phrase that helps them the most and it is: "Divided we gain, united we lose."
In Jammu province, too, leaders are treading different paths and putting forth different solutions. The Congress and the BJP leaders are opposing those who have been working for the division of the state and demanding statehood for Jammu, saying separation from Kashmir is the only long-term solution. They are not even supporting the idea of Jammu getting a statutory regional council or regional development board. They are of the view that the idea of Jammu getting the status of statehood or getting a statutory regional council or regional development board would mean handing over the state to Pakistan on a platter. The national parties, which have their support-base in Jammu's several Assembly constituencies, seldom express their solidarity with the suffering people of Jammu province. Their compulsion is that the leaders of these two national parties cannot go beyond the mandate they have been given by their respective high commands in New Delhi.
There are several other small and marginal political groups in Jammu province, including the Panthers Party, but even they do not form a front to fight for the cause they otherwise consistently talk about. They are as divided as the Kashmir-based formations. The fact is that there is not a single party in the Jammu province that is prepared to merge its identity with other in the larger interest of Jammu. The result is that the Kashmir-based parties, which are divided in once sense and completely united in another as far as their stand on India and Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, take full advantage of the division in the Jammu-based formations and try to extend their tentacles to Jammu. They fail to do so because the people of Jammu province, barring a handful of the vested interests, rebuff the Kashmiri leadership. It appears the people of Jammu province have taken upon themselves the responsibility of defending their cause. One can cite innumerable instances to prove this point.
This is the tale of the two provinces - Jammu and Kashmir. It is for the people to draw conclusion. However, one has to acknowledge that the wedlock between the two provinces is unnatural and it is the most opportune time to break this wedlock. It would help Kashmir achieve what it wants to achieve and it will help Jammu achieve what it could not achieve in alliance with Kashmir. (Concluded)
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