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| WEEKLY ANALYSIS | | | Central University hangs in balance
Jammu and Kashmir had been keenly waiting for its Central University but it appears elusion in present situation. As regional polarization keeps on deepening in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Government has stopped short of naming the place for setting up a Central University already sanctioned for the state. Jammu and Kashmir is one of the 16 States in country where the Knowledge Commission had recommended setting up of a Central University. Following recommendation of the panel, the Union Government has also given its nod in today’s cabinet meeting but a place has not been named for the new Central University in Jammu and Kashmir. Observers believe that under the prevailing regionally polarized political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, it may not be possible for the Central Government to immediately announce the place. A Central University in Jammu is all set to be opposed by the people in Valley and vice versa.
The Cabinet has decided that in four states existing Universities will be upgraded to the level of Central University while in 12 states new Central Universities will be set up directly under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resource Development with President of India as Visitor and the authority to appoint Vice Chancellors. Jammu and Kashmir has been listed among the states where new University will be set up.
BPEE in thick of things
Entrance examination for selection of various undergraduate professional courses is a keenly watched and awaited affair in Jammu and Kashmir. It attracts more attention in Jammu for a variety of reasons. There are dozens of highly competitive coaching institutions, the students are highly laborious but they often lag behind. Whenever the list is released Jammu comes up with its own story of discrimination. This year was no different from the previous ones. The Board of Professional had this year moved cautiously by not publishing the addresses of selected candidates to avoid questions on regional balance in list but the BJP has counted heads on basis of religion to make a point. The Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, BJP, Jammu State Morcha, Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad and at least half a dozen other parties, organizations and students unions have voiced their concerns and asked for scrap of the list. A vociferous demand is being made for implementation of the Singhal Committee report. “There are 68 % Muslims in the MBBS list and 32 % from all other communities”, says BJP Vice President Prof Hari Om. This contention is, however, strongly refuted by the BPEE. It depends on hard work students have put in and how well they have performed in the test…region or religion is not a part of selection criteria”, says BPEE Chairman Prof Santokh Ram who apparently sounded hurt on the allegations.
Santokh Ram rubbished aside allegations. He said, “Ours is the most free and fair selection process and there is no room for any foul play…is people from any particular area fail to perform well in the test, the BPEE is no authority to overlook merit to do regional balancing”. He added, “there is no point of raising questions on discrimination”.
Hari Om says out of a total of 290 MBBS seats, only 93 (32 per cent) had gone to non-Muslims, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Kashmiri Hindus and that their share in the open category was only 12.5 per cent (33 out of 125 seats). The JSM is also of the same opinion and has warned of agitation if the list was not cancelled.
Different Eid on borders
Eid is such a festival when even the enemy is forgiven to rejoice in brotherhood. On our borders where India and Pakistan share hostility, there were some gestures of brotherhood but hostility was not quite shunned. Whenever there is a festivity on this side of the divide, strange behaviour erupts from the other side carrying urges of limited peace and reflections of deep rooted hostilities. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr which was celebrated with gaiety in Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani rangers resorted to firing on the International Border near Kanhachal to push in the armed infiltrators. Interestingly, not far away, in Poonch the Pakistan Army officers walked up to the Line of Control to exchange sweets and greetings with their Indian counterparts on the eve of Eid.
In second incident of breach of ceasefire in less than 52 hours, Pakistani troops on Wednesday fired from across the border to push in armed militants in Jammu, the BSF said.
The scene on the Line of Control was in contrast. Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged sweets and greetings at the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on the occasion of the Eid festival. Officials of both armies met at Chakan-da-Bagh point at the LoC. “Lt. Assad from Pakistan and Lt. Manish Yadav from India shook hands and exchanged sweets and greetings at 10.30 AM this morning,” an official said. Assad extended “Eid greetings to all the Muslims of Kashmir” and said: “We all hope and pray for peace and prosperity in the region.” On incidents of firing at the LoC, Assad said: “Both (Indian and Pakistani) armies are professionals and are taking care that there should be no violation of ceasefire agreed between us.”
Tough for foreigner ultras
The militants of foreign origin had to face adverse weather in Jammu and Kashmir this year. the Jammu and Kashmir Police in various joint operations with Army and other paramilitary forces has killed 16 top commander –foreigners and locals –of various outfits since January this year. the Director General of Police said last week that since January this year, 26 top foreign and local militants were eliminated in militancy operations conduced jointly by Police, Army and CRPF in various parts of valley and Jammu in the state. He said 10 top foreign mercenaries belongs to various outfits like LeT, Al-Badr, and JeM were eliminated till 23rd September. Besides 16 top local self styled commanders of various outfits viz HUJI, HM, LeT and Al-Badr were killed in different operations till 9th August this year. He said people of all walks of life have appreciated the role of police during these anti-militancy operations carried out in various parts of the state in a surgical manner adding collateral damages have been minimum while executing these operations.
Omar revives Jammu anger
It was after a prolonged struggle and careful political handling that two-month long Jammu agitation was resolved on Aug 31. The agitation was largely peaceful till third week of July when a youth committed suicide on being allegedly provoked by the speech of National Conference president Omar Abdullah in Lok Sabha. Following this Omar remained at the center of controversy.
After keeping away from the Winter Capital City when his name was the hate symbol of agitation and several hundreds of his effigies were sent up in smoke, the National Conference president Omar Abdullah arrived in town on September 29 to a hero’s welcome.
The road from airport to the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan was painted red with National Conference flags as Omar was taken into an enthusiastic procession to the party headquarters where he addressed the workers. This was in sharp contrast to August 2 situation when his father and party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah remained holes up inside airport for four years as agitated people of Jammu did not allow him to move out.
While addressing a convention of party workers, Omar Abdullah said that his party was instrumental in getting the Amarnath land row resolved. “We played a lead role in helping the Government of India to resolve Amarnath land controversy to bring normalcy in the region”, said Omar.
He hit out at the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party for what he said mishandling of the Amarnath issue. Omar accused them of playing vote bank politics and dividing the state on the basis of religion, region without concentrating their energies towards resolving the issue which brought the state on the brink of division.
The NC leader also blamed Sangarsh Samiti for its unwarranted agitation adding that due to the economic blockade, people of Kashmir have now started thinking the other way. He pointed out that even during the peak period of militancy there was no such blockade but regretted that this time the Jammuties showed their real face forcing Kashmiri traders to opt for other means of trade. He said that his Parliament speech on land row was misquoted and made it clear that the party had threadbare discussions on the issue.
Omar’s statement appears to have again stirred up the sentiments in Jammu and a war of words has broken out between National Conference, Sangharsh Samiti and the BJP. |
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