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| What is objectionable in Mufti's proposal? | | Dual currency for J&K | | Yash Bhasin
The proposal mooted by the former J&K Chief Minister and PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for Pakistani currency to be allowed for circulation in Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously with the Indian currency has sparked of sharp controversy. There have been going on strong protests and demonstrations in various parts of Jammu region, with Mufti Sayeed's effigies being burnt and the protestors demanding action against him and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, who had earlier proposed joint control and a shared sovereignty by India and Pakistan over Kashmir. The Congress party and the UPA government in the Centre is also being put in the dock for allowing the PDP, a coalition partner of the Congress led government in J&K state to float suggestions, which on the face of these compromise India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir and demands have been raised for the Congress to part company with "anti national" and secessionist friendly PDP, by kicking it out of the coalition government led by it.
On the other hand Mufti who mooted this idea originally in a public meeting at a remote place of Mahore in Reasi district of Jammu region has upped his ante in favour of the demand, justifying the same as in the interest of economic development of J&K by facilitating and providing impetus to trade across LoC in two parts of J&K. With every passing day Mufti has been getting louder and louder, reiterating his suggestion with more vigour, claiming J&K to give lead to SAARC nations in emulating the common currency regime in the countries under European Union. The PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has come out to defend his father and has called for the proposal to be discussed and debated thoroughly instead of being rejected outrightly.
The chief loyalist of Muftis and virtual spokesman of the PDP in the state government, Minister for Finance, Housing and Urban Development, Tariq Hammid Qarra has come out to counter attack the critics of Mufti's proposal about dual currency and earlier the dual control proposal made by Mehbooba Mufti during her visit to Pakistan, in sharpest terms, describing them intolerant to the aspiration of Kashmiris and enemies of the interest of the people of Kashmir. Some PDP leaders from Jammu, of political insignificance, who have hardly any roots among the masses in the region, have been deployed by the party to counter the mounting attack on their leaders by various organizations in Jammu, who have dubbed the ideas mooted by father—daughter duo Muftis as anti national since the same compromises India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir and provides encouragement to the agenda of the secessionists in Kashmir.
That Mufti has chosen Jammu region to press his demand for dual currency, where it is proving a red rag to the bull and not Kashmir, where the idea can get ample support, is a calculated game plan to provoke Jammuites to come out in the streets and condemn the moves in sharpest terms, so that the same provokes counter reaction in Kashmir, thus creating further division and widen chasm between the two regions.
Whereas the hardline secessionist, Tehreke Hurriyat leader, Sayeed Ali Shaw Geelani has rejected the idea as a political gimmick, aimed at diverting the attention of the Kashmiris from the ongoing "Aazdai movement", the moderate Hurriyat conference leaders have welcomed it, describing it as a step towards resolving Kashmir issue. The media in Kashmir by and large has supported these ideas and even has a dig on the opponents and critics of the same, terming them as anti Kashmiris and opposed to the well being and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, whose separate identity and freedom is under threat.
Thus these proposals mooted by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti have served their desire purpose of widening the division and chasm between Jammu and Kashmir, for the PDP to cash on this regional polarization in the forthcoming elections, by identifying the party to be on the side of the separatist aspiration of the Kashmiris against the integrationist feeling prevalent in Jammu. How far the party succeeds in this game plan is entirely another thing?
However in the heat of controversy over the suggestion mooted by Mufti, the real issues at stake have not been properly highlighted. Mufti has sought to justify his suggestion of allowing dual currency in J&K alone and has compared it with the common currency used by the countries in the European Union and has also cited the resolve by the SAARC countries in Asia to work for having a common currency and free trade in the region. He has claimed Kashmir to be providing lead to the SAARC nations in this regard. In doing so he and supporters of his idea are deliberately creating confusion in the minds of the common people. Mufti has, by implication, given fillip to the concept of Kashmir bring a separate country and Kashmiris a separate nation, thus striking a common chord with the separatists and secessionists in Kashmir. There could be hardly any objection if Mufti had pleaded for India and Pakistan as a whole to have a common currency and even for allowing their two currencies to circulate in the subcontinent. But what he has suggested is a circulation of the dual currency for Jammu and Kashmir alone, which is tantamount to Jammu and Kashmir being a sovereign state and one of the nations in the SAARC.
Any two sovereign countries or a group of countries can by consensus decide to have a common currency if its serves their mutual trade and economic interests. But decision in this regard has to be taken by the sovereign nations through mutual understanding and agreement and the system for the same has to be for the country as a whole and not for a state within a country. Allowing Pakistan currency in J&K alone will tantamount to accepting Pakistan's locus standi in the state and accepting its dejure claim of having some legal standing over Jammu and Kashmir. Thus it will be accepting the concept of three nations theory, with J&K being a separate sovereign state.
This is highly dangerous for the solidarity of the country. Suppose tomorrow a section of Akalis or some other group in Punjab demands for Pakistani and Indian currencies to be allowed for use in two Punjabs or some elements in Bengal ask for India and Bangladesh currency to be allowed for use in two parts of former united Bengal or some pro China elements in Tripura demand Indian and Chinese currencies to be allowed for circulation in the state, or again if Taliban in north western Pakistan demand Pakistani and Afghanistani currency to be used in their province alone, will that be acceptable?
Mufti's suggestion is dangerous still from another angle. Harping on it by the PDP will create some hopes in the minds of separatists in Kashmir. But when the same is not materialized, it will lead to further anti India feelings and further strengthen alienation of Kashmiris with Indian mainstream. |
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