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| Frangibility of the Duggar Pradesh | | | Dr Virendra K Sahi
Let us go back a little. The case
of the alleged rape and murder of Asifa, the eight year old girl in Kathua, is still in dark shade of controversies. Amongst repeated attempts of communalizing the case, problems in the police investigation also came to fore. The very selection of 'investigators' was under suspect. At the same time, cracks in the BJP-PDP coalition became evident. Continuous attempts were made to give a communal color to malign Dogra Community as a whole in the case. Evidences were played with and the government remained a mute spectator. The victim was declared an orphan, to bolster sympathy, but her parents came out alive. There are doubts if the main suspected accused was in town at all. The issue had become another point of contention between BJP and PDP, the two parties that later ended the ruling coalition in J&K.
With all this on the darker side we must give credit to the Dogras (of all religions) and their Dogriyat that held all communities bound together. All in one voice denounced the crime and voiced for exemplary punishment to the "actual" criminals and sought an independent inquiry by a neutral agency CBI. The case is yet to conclude. Gujjars have remained and are part of life in Jammu and shall remain so. If it was a conspiracy to create a communal divide it has failed. Investigations and the courts will reach a logical conclusion and the multi-forces that acted in creating a horrifying picture shall get exposed and the criminals identified and punished. But the orchestral false scene of stigma on Jammu will stay in the memories of all who know Dogras, the word over; even if proved false. The recent case of post Pulwama carnage agitations leading to anti-national slogans and countering national slogans resulting in a tense situation in Jammu had little to do with Pulwama. The NH was closed due to continued heavy rain/snow falls caused by Western climatic Disturbance and many landslides. Large numbers of Kashmiri passengers were stranded at Jammu bus stand. They were accommodated in various education institutes. Many Social charitable organizations, including from temples and Gurudwars came forward with help. Blankets and 'vegetarian' food was served free of cost since it is generally acceptable to all. Somehow, the Auqaf and mosques did not indulge.
Some aspirants were also there among the stranded, whose exams were due at Srinagar. These were airlifted on priority on request of an ex-Chief minister causing resentment among others left behind. There was also some displeasure about the 'vegetarian' food donated from temples. They raised anti-government slogans in a college hostel, where they were housed. This was followed by anti India slogans and soon turned to pro Pakistan slogans.
The last was more provocative and was resented by local nationalist students who countered them with pro-India and anti-Pakistan slogans after surrounding the hostel from outside. The police came on call by the college and brutally roughed up many and arrested a few of the local students surrounding the hostel and dispersed them. The news spread and more anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans were raised from 3/ 4 other localities with concentration of the Kashmiri population of a particular community. These included government quarters housing Kashmiri staff moved in with Durbar. There were reports of greater probable reaction by the locals. Civil administration clamped Sec144 and curfew as a preventive measure, that lasted for a week till all was calm.
Normally, the administration should 'identify', then 'isolate' the trouble shooters, 'cordon' them to investigate and control/ arrest the mischievous elements if necessary. Instead the whole city was paralyzed under strict curfew that lasted for a long week. Schools, Colleges closed, University exams postponed. No milk for children as Gujjars could not move around. No fresh vegetables that rotted in the Mandis. Pilgrims and tourists stranded without transport and eateries, sending distress messages throughout the country affecting future of the already dim tourism. Daily wagers, laborers, hawkers, porters, pony Walas small businessmen were pushed to starvation. The conditions were akin to what the Pakistani ISI agents used to create in Kashmir with their 'Bandh' calls to starve the poor and then hire stone pelters from among the starved at cheep daily payments of hawala money received from ISI. To top it all Kashmir leaders created hue and cry at national level against "harassment to Kashmiris" in Jammu.
Is Jammu so fragile that it can be put to blame and administered deep general anesthesia only because a bunch of hoodlums from Kashmir raise pro-Pakistan slogans at an isolated limb. Has Jammu got no voice of its own? And are there no leaders to voice for Jammu? Above all, is the 'K' centric attitude so deeply bedded in the rank and files of the administration and police, over the 70 yerars that the discrimination and bias continues even during the Governor's rule? The Jammuiets, the Dogras of all communities must give a serious thought to this ugly tradition, for the sake of their own survival, progeny and posterity. That's "special status" as far as Jammu and Dogras (of all religions) is concerned. Should you continue to be ruled by the 'K' centric governance as in the last seventy years or else do you need a change?
Elections are not too far! |
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