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| 2007-Year of political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 31
The conflict between the PDP and the Congress kept year 2007 a year of political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir. Whenever the flames of the conflict became hotter peoples 'interest in the fate of the ruling coalition would become as keener as it was about the activities of militants. However, the truce worked out by the AICC leadership towards the fag end of the year brightened the prospects of a smooth sailing between the two main partners in the coalition Government.
The ruling coalition, despite differences, managed to initiate measures which set in motion work on various development projects, including those meant to promote road connectivity. The Congress led Government took the credit of creating eight new districts which silenced those who used to blame the successive Governments for not implementing Wazir Commission recommendations .While between 2003 and 2005, 14 degree colleges were opened in the state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, seemed to have been in such a haste as he cleared opening of 18 degree colleges in one go. But this decision lifted the lid of the Pandora's Box with people and political leaders protesting against excluding Magam, Mahore and Poonch belts. In Magam, one civilian got killed in police firing.
In Jammu the BJP and the BSP organized impressive rallies in order to demonstrate their strength. The year saw political parties baiting on each others workers and leaders. The PDP gunned for the NC leaders and workers, the Congress aimed at Panthers Party men and the vice versa. Dissensions affected the strength of the BJP and the BSP. The Congress and the NC too were affected by it and the latter had to pay a price when it lost the by election in Poonch.
As far as the separatists were concerned the conflict among their camps and between the APHC and the faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani assumed new dimensions. The hopes of moderate separatist camp for the resumption of the dialogue with the centre were dashed to the ground. The Prime Minister, instead, gave emphasis to the roundtable conferences and the report of the five working groups which he had constituted.
The year saw a drop in infiltration of militants from across the LOC and in the rate of violence. There were no major suicide attacks in the year that has just ended.
It was after a long time that the State Government succeeded in having state subjects to occupy the chair of Chief Secretary and the Director General police. However, despite his initial commitment against periodic transfers of officers in the civil administration and the police, the Chief Minister had to succumb to the pressures which resulted in major and minor shakeup in the bureaucracy and the police.
It was a year of hope for the traders and transporters as the pilgrim rush to Mata Vaishnov Devi crossed 70 lakhs. It was a lesser hope for traders, transporters and hoteliers and houseboat owners because the tourist influx to the Kashmir Valley was less than the expectations. It was a year of despair for the common people because of severe rise in the consumer goods and other items, including rice, wheat Atta, edible oil, ghee, butter, milk, mutton, cheese, eggs, fruit and vegetables. |
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