news details |
|
|
| JPUF, BSP up the ante, demand CM from Jammu | | Re-organization of state | |
Rustam
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 10: One of the immediate fallouts of the senseless and communally-motivated opposition in the Kashmir Valley to the loud clamour in Jammu for a Chief Minister from Jammu is not only the emergence of the Jammu Pradesh United Front (JPUF), but also the Bahujan Samaj Party's passionate call for unity and a full-scale and relentless struggle in the region calculated to obtain the status of a full-fledged statehood for Jammu province.
The JPUF, an amalgam of 15 social and political groups, some being very influential, was floated in Jammu on January 9 with three objectives - to create a powerful counterpoise to the Kashmiri leadership's unjust, divisive and pro-Pakistan's hope and aspiration, fight for the Jammu cause and force the BJP not to compromise its stand on the office of Chief Minister for Jammu. Ever since then, the JPUF leadership has been urging the BJP to stick to its agenda and fulfill the promises it made to the people of Jammu province. Only the other day, the JPUF reiterated its stand on the political empowerment of Jammu and in between, it also organized a dharna in Jammu to put across its point of view.
As for the BSP, it reiterated its earlier stand, that trifurcation of the State into Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh was the only option available to end the 67-year old valley domination over the State's polity and economy; regenerate the socio-economic and political life of social groups like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and refugees from West Pakistan, almost all Dalits; and full integration of the State into India. "We are demanding trifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir on geographical lines because aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are entirely different. Majority of the people in Jammu, demand strengthening of relations with the Union of Indian by abrogating special status. Some sections in the valley, demand more autonomy (read limited accession with India). Residents of Ladakh are unanimous on the demand of Union Territory status. The contradictions are irreconcilable. Division of the State is the only way out to end unrest," said TulsiDassLangeh, State president of BSP. It was not the first occasion, when the BSP demanded trifurcation of the state. It had put forth this demand in the past as well. In fact, the BSP had in 2013 moved a resolution in the RajyaSabha demanding the state's trifurcation.
The fundamental difference between what the JPUF say and what the BSP vouch for and advocate is none. Both say, the Kashmiri leadership in no way represents the general will of the people of the State. They describe the opposition in Kashmir to the demand in Jammu, for the highest executive office as a canny move designed to not only perpetuate Kashmiri domination over the socially and economically ignored, politically marginalized and grossly discriminated against people of Jammu and Ladakh, but also to thwart and delay for an indefinite period the realization of their most cherished goal of political empowerment.
Ever since December 23, when the election threw up a hung Assembly for the third time in a row, nearly all in the valley who matter, have been repudiating the demand for a Hindu Chief Minister from Jammu. They insist that the Chief Minister of the State has to be a Muslim from the Kashmir valley as before. The people of Jammu have taken the Kashmiri stand on the office of Chief Minister to mean an affront to their self-respect.
What stung the people of Jammu all the more was the January 12 flawed assertion of the additional general secretary of the former Chief Minister and working president of National Congress, Omar Abdullah's uncouth uncle, Mustafa Kamal, that the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution of 1957, provided only for a Muslim Chief Minister from the valley. "Jammu & Kashmir is a Muslim-majority State and (Jammu & Kashmir) Constitution clearly says that a person from a majority (read Muslim community) can become the head of the Government in the State." He is wrong, of course. The State Constitution nowhere says that the Chief Minister of the State has to be a Muslim from Kashmir. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
