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| Azad wins peace Congress loses ease | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu | July 4
Whatever may be the ultimate fallout of the revocation of the land diversion order on the future political situation in Jammu and Kashmir its immediate impact has been on the state unit of the Congress in the Jammu region,which is its stronghold when compared to the Kashmir valley.Those who do not hold this view should change their opinion by having witnessed how the protesters targeted the houses of some Congress ministers and legislators,The school owned by Gulchain Sing Charak,Minister for higher education,at Shastri Nagar was the first target of the demonstrators protesting against the withdrawal of the controversial order.Do the supporters of the congress need more evidence.for convincing them that at present the wind is blowing against the Congress as the Chief Minister buckled under the pressure mounted by Kashmiris.People openly blame the Chief Minister for having preferred to play the Kashmir card to safeguarding the sentiments of people of the Jammu region.
But Azad alone is not to be blamed.India's territorial integrity and security bank on the situation in Kashmir when during the last 60 years Pakistan has been trying hard to keep the Kashmir issue alive through diplomatic moves and by aiding crossborder terrorism.It was,indeed,a trying time for Ghulam Nabi Azad.He needed proper guidance and support from Delhi.The Congress led Government in the centre seems to have failed to guide Azad properly.It was not because of any dearth in political wisdom in Delhi.Unfortunately the UPA Government was obsessed with the nuclear deal.Neither the Prime Minister nor the UPA chairperson had time to deliberate on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.The two were occupied in saving the Government.They were not bothered about saving the congress in Jammu and Kashmir which alone could strengthen integration of the state with rest of the country.They had no time.And the blunder has been done.And all the pronationalist forces in the state and the supporters of the Congress blame,unnecessarily,the Chief Minister who,atleast,has been able to restore peace in Kashmir.But his decision to revoke the land diversion order has set Jammu on fire.During the last two days about six people have received bullet woruds when the police opened fire on the angry demonstrators, and more than 100 civilians,besides 30 policemen,were injured.Two factors are said to have incited people in Jammu to resort to violence..First,the way the congress preferred support of the voters in the valley to those in the Jammu region by responding favourably to the demand of Kashmir centric political parties and the separatists demanding revocation of the land diversion order.Secondly, the way protesters fired crackers and indulged in jubiliation in Srinagar soon after the order was revoked angered people in Jammu who displayed their strength in facing the police bullets,tear smoke and lathi blows.
As the dates for the next Assembly election was drawing near the Congress had pinned hopes on the support of the electorate in the Jammu region which has 37 constituencies.The Congress plan was not wrong.In 2002 Assembly poll the Comngress had won 15 seats in the Jammu region and only five in the Kashmir valley.Prior to the turmoil over the land diversion issue the Congress had expected to win at least 20 to 25 seats in the Jammu region.Do not think the congress will draw blank.Yes, in the given situation the Congress could not get more than ten seats but the inability of the saffron brigade to cash on the Congress blunder may ultimately help the congress to win between 10 and 15 seats from the Jammu region.Lack of leadership and the absence of the cadre based organisation may not help the BJP to sink the Congress boat in Jammu.Since the BJP is yet to mend fences with those who had quit the organisation during the last three years and in the absence of any electoral understanding with then Panthers Party the BJP may not be in a position to pose a major threat to the Congress in Jammu.One thing is certain the PDP and the National Conference have lost the ground in the Jammu region.Yes,the two parties can expect some support in the muslim dominated areas of Poonch,Rajouri and Doda districts. |
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