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| Two and half districts formulation communally motivated | | Breaking Jammu | | Neha
JAMMU, Oct 26: Kashmiri leaders give the people to understand that Kathua, Jammu and half of Udhampur districts are Hindu-majority and all other areas of Jammu Pradesh are Muslim-majority. They assert that it is the people of these two and half districts who go their own way. Their whole approach is communal. The people of Jammu Pradesh do not practice communal politics. They are part and parcel of the national mainstream, notwithstanding the fact that New Delhi has all along ignored them to keep the people of Kashmir in good humour. It is important to note that seven out of 11 Muslim-majority seats in Jammu Pradesh are represented in the Assembly by the Congress party. There are 37 Assembly segments in this historically, geographically, politically, culturally and ethnically distinct Jammu Pradesh, which is known for it bravery and valour.
Are the Kashmiri leaders right when they say that two and half districts of Jammu Pradesh are Hindu-majority and all others Muslim-majority? They are absolutely wrong. In fact, their formulation is as communally-motivated as it is flawed and ill-designed. Its aim is to defeat the Jammu's movement for empowerment. It is true that Kathua and Jammu districts are predominantly Hindu, where the Muslim population constitutes a minority. But the Hindus and the Muslims live together and share each other's joy and sorrow. They call themselves proud Dogras.
As for Udhampur, Samba and Reasi districts, they are Hindu-majority, with Muslims not constituting more than 20 per cent of the Pradesh's population. The most laudable fact is that the Hindus and Muslims of these three districts have never allowed communal amity to be disturbed. Yes, the erstwhile Doda district was Muslim-majority, but the proportion of the Muslim and Hindus in this district was 55:45. Three tehsils were Muslim-majority and an equal number Hindu-majority. The district was trifurcated during the regime of Ghulam Nabi Azad into Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. Ramban district is Hindu-majority with Muslims constituting a respectable minority. Doda and Kishtwar districts are Muslim-majority with Hindus constituting a very respectable minority.
The short point is that the Muslim and Hindu population in all these three districts is almost evenly balanced and they maintain very cordial relations. Leave aside a few aberrations here and there which took place in every society. As for Rajouri district, the area from Sunderbani up to Rajouri city is Hindu-majority. The proportion of Muslims and Hindus in this district is almost 55:45. Poonch is the only district in Jammu Pradesh where the non-Muslims, including Hindus and Sikhs, constitute about 15 per cent of the district's population.
This is the demographic profile of Jammu Pradesh. It is unfortunate that one has to discuss the Pradesh in such a manner, but there are fanatics and communalist of communalists who have been seeking to create schism in the Jammu society or among the communities for ulterior motives. They are seeking to divide Jammu Pradesh in three communal zones completely overlooking the fact that what they are saying is fraught with dangerous ramifications. They are, in fact, the staunch votaries of Greater Kashmir comprising the Muslim Kashmir and the Muslim-majority areas of Jammu Pradesh and trans-Himalayan Ladakh. This is not going to happen. The people of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri districts are determined to preserve the territorial integrity of Jammu Pradesh at whatever cost. Besides, a bulk of population in this Pradesh is fed up with the Kashmiri leadership for obvious reasons. It seeks separation from Kashmir on regional, as opposed to religious, basis. This is a fact and it needs to be recognized as such. |
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