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| Cost of victory: 11 lives and Rs 10,000 Crores | | Jammu still ready to do more for rights | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 31
The City of Temples has always been considered by the naïve as a sleeping down and rest of Jammu region as an abode of politically unconscious minds. Perhaps now is the time that the people not only in other parts of this state but also in the country reframe their opinion as people of Jammu have made it known to the all that they cant be taken for granted, any more.
Now when the agitation has been called off, a loss to the economy of Jammu has been roughly calculated at Rs 10,000 Crores suffered during shutdowns and curfews over past two months. This is not the only cost. At least eleven brave hearts offered their life for the cause –either at their own or to the bullets. Jammu has paid a heavy price for this initial victory but the region has clearly asserted that it is ready to still farther in its struggle for the just and genuine rights.
In the later half of June, protests erupted in Kashmir Valley following inept handling of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land transfer issue. Jammu watched the developments with keen interest but not with the traditional silence. The government was kept well warned of the consequences if the decision was reconsidered ignoring sentiments of the people of Jammu region.
The government of that time perhaps could not read the public pulse. It went on with the decision keeping in mind 60 years of silent attitude of Jammu. A thought was not given to the reason why Jammu always chose silence over all these 60 years. It was a commitment to the nationalism and patriotism and tradition of tolerance that Jammu always accepted with humbleness whatever came its way.
No sooner did the government withdraw land from the shrine board that Jammu was up in flames. The government of that time yet again failed to read the pulse. The decision makers thought situation would settle down after few days of slogans and shut down. How ill advised they were?
Then hundreds of wiser people in the country asked: if issue pertains to religious sentiments of Hindus why Jammu alone is protesting. Reason is simple. Jammu has been hurt and bruised by hundreds of discriminatory decision. The region maintained silence in national interest. This time, the national interest was not anywhere visible. So, Jammu made it clear to all that enough was enough.
The revocation of land from the Shrine Board was just trigger; the real issue was still far larger. When the people of Jammu cutting across all considerations warned against withdrawal of land, the government did not heed these warnings. It was enough a reason for every Jammuite to see the acts of discrimination at its highest and at its worst.
There were apprehensions and allegations that the agitation is communal in outlook. Hats off the people of Jammu –the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians –who jointly vowed to prove these notions wrong. Yes, at the center of agitation was a Hindu shrine but the secularism is all about knowing one’s own religion well and respecting the other’s faith equally. This is what Jammu is known for.
The morning of Sunday, August 31, 2008, will go down in the history of Jammu as a “Red Letter Day”. It was a day of victory of the public sentiment. It was a day earned at a heavy price. One after the other, many brave heroes of region either offered their life happily or faced the government’s bullets in their chests from a close range. This, however, did not discourage the mothers from sending their young sons at forefront of the processions and demonstrations.
Jammu’s economy is essentially trade based and a shut down of just one day costs it heavily. Some people might have thought that businessmen of Jammu won’t be able to sustain this loss beyond few days. Such opinions were proved wrong. The industrialists and traders not only shut their eyes to loss of hundreds of crores of rupees but they also liberally contributed to make the agitation successful.
After a two month agitation in the Jammu, the patriotic people of the Jammu have won the first phase of the battle, and not the whole war. This is just a beginning, more is yet to come. What we saw during the agitation, the people of irrespective of the caste, creed and sex participated in huge numbers including small children holding peaceful demonstrators in the support of the restoration of the land to SASB under the banner of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti led by its convener Leela Karan Sharma. This agitation or we can say a mass movement was taken to its logical conclusion with the concrete efforts and support of Bar Association Jammu, Chamber of Commerce & Industry, associated traders federation, Industries, hotels & restaurant associations, transporators, doctors, para-medical staff. Leaders of the political parties, social organization and many others.
It all started with a small protest initially, when the land which was diverted to SASB by the govt was revoked under the pressure from separatists and Kuldeep Verma’s dead body, who committed suicide was taken forcibly by the police and later tried to burnt it with alcohol and petrol sparked the violent protestors across the region. Since then, it became a mass movement and got strengthened day by day peoples participation, holding rallies admist slogans “Bum Bum Bhole” across the Jammu region.
Talking to ET correspondent Ram Sahai, president Chamber of Commerce & Indusrty, said that we have lost more than 10,000 crores during this agitation but we have achieved our goal. This is for the first time after 60 years, Jammu has raised its voice for the genuine demand as it was matter of faith. I am thankful to the people of Jammu who gave overwhelming support to this agitation.
Dr. Jitandra Singh, spokesperson, Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti said that it was a joint effort of all of us which led to the success of this agitation. We have won only one phase of the battle. The prime issues has been solved, and now other issues will be taken step by step.
Dr. Renu Nanda, a professor in Jammu University was of the view that this agitation has set a glorious example of achieving goal in peaceful manner and not disturbing the communal harmony. She appreciated the role of all community who fought under the banner of Sangarsh Samiti achieved the desired goal. It is an old saying, united we stand, divided we fall.
Priya Monocha, who owns a boutique, said that, thank god, the land has been given back to SASB for the yatra period and has given its usage to exclusively to Shrine Board. We have suffered a lot in business, but with the grace of god, every thing will be normal in coming days. She further added that the people of the Jammu have maintained communal harmony inspite of provocations fro time to time.
Dr. Agnisheker, convener, Panun Kashmir expressed his happiness over the decision on the land row and saluted the people of the Jammu including Kashmiri Hindus mostly living in camps from the last 20 years, when they were forced to migrate from the valley by the separatists and the anti-national elements.
Leela Karan Sharma, convener, Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, said that our prime goal has been achieved. We have only suspended the agitation, not called off as speculated by some vested persons. This was just the beginning, war is not over. Results in other areas are yet to be achieved like discrimination with Jammu constitution of delimitation of funds, job opportunities. This is for the first time, Jammu’s voice has been heard at state level and at centre level. |
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