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| NC, Congress must help end regional discrimination | | | DAYA SAGAR
Those who are from outside the political arena need to spare some time for the sake of the common man. The common man has right to information but he need be told what information is required by him. A check on the conventional leadership is needed to save the Jammu Region people from getting their innocence and simplicity exploited. Ofcourse the people of J&K in general are to be saved from the exploitation that the leaders have been aiming at in the name of religion and region. People of J&K in general and the people of Jammu Region in particular have many questions for their leaders to answer . The people ( majority living in vast far flung and remotely connected areas ) of Jammu Region have been rather pushed back ( comparatively ) economically, industrially, tourism wise , educationally and social development wise.
The Jammu based political leaders of parties in power have so far been very weak politically . No doubt the leadership at Delhi too did never encourage the Congress or National Conference or BJP or even PDP leaders from Jammu. Kashmiri leaders irrespective of their political affiliations have mostly stood united when ever it was the question of administrative and political interest of Kashmir Valley.
Kashmir centric proposals have always found priority . For rational distribution of development funds local administrative units do matter . A revenue district is most important administrative unit for this purpose. It was surely for this reason that Justice J. N. Wazir Commission had recommended in 1984 creation of three new districts in Jammu Region ( Rajouri, Kishtwar and Bahu/ Samba) and only one new District in Kashmir Region ( Bandipora) . Wazir Commission recommendations were intentionally not implemented by Kashmir Valley centric leadership and those at New Delhi since only one new district was recommended for Kashmir region as against three new districts for Jammu region .
It was after 22 years a decision was taken by Congress lead Ghulam Nabi Azad government for reorganization of District Administrative Units in J&K .But Azad lead Congress Government too worked no different than the Sheikh Abdullah Congress supported Government of 1979. In 1979 unilaterally Sheikh Abdullah government had created three new districts ( Badgam, Pulwama and Kupwara ) in Kashmir Valley even by splitting Srinagar District ( less than 3600 sq km area and mostly plain terrain) into two districts ( Srinagar and Badgam ) . Where as in 1979 even the so large districts like Doda ( spread over 11691 sq Km area and all bad terrain ) and Udhampur ( 4550 sq km area spread over backward areas and bad terrain ) were over looked. Even Districts of Rajouri , Kathua and Poonch of Jammu Division too were having substantial population living in far flung area with inadequate means of communication and bad terrain. And it was once again in 2006 that Jammu Division ( Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kathua ,Poonch , Jammu , Kishtwar, Ramban , Reasi ) was meted with neglect ( unfair treatment ) . Now it was Congress lead Azad Government .
Against just one district as recommended by Wazir commission in 1984 four districts were given to Kashmir region. Jammu Region was also given four districts but it was against three already recommended by Wazir Commission. The decision was termed as Historic Decision by those in the Political seat . So unfortunately even a race was set amongst local leaders of Congress, PDP, National Conference , JKPP ( particularly from Reasi , Samba , Kishtwar and Ramban ) to earn credit for the decision taken by Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad government in the name of Wazir Commission Report.. Where as the fact was that Wazir Commission recommendations were in a way ignored by Congress lead Azad Government.. Even the so called intelligentia of Jammu region did not feel it worth questing those who rejoiced when Ghulam Nabi Azad crossed all barriers of logistics and administrative norms by giving 4 districts to Kashmir region as against recommendations for only one..
Some non Congress leaders from Jammu were seen even celebrating “ Jammu Mautsav “ for the creation of new Districts .They should have rather agitated against the injustice done by Ghulam Nabi Azad government with Jammu Region. May be some of those who rejoiced the injustice done to relatively poor people of backward areas of Jammu Region were looking for some berth in the ministry or entry to legislative council ( MLC ) through back door support of Ghulam Nabi Azad . And some of them when failed to get the toast , they started accusing the government . They need be asked to make good the loss the common man of distant and bad areas has suffered since 1984 for 22 years . The hard efforts of the leadership of Kashmir Region succeeded to undo the good that the Wazir commission recommendations could do to Jammu Region . . Where as Kulgam , Ghaderbal and Shopian were considered for district status but the injustice was done to zones like Akhnoor , Basoli/Bani, some areas of Ladakh , etc . Kashmiri leadership succeeded in getting 300 percent more than what Wazir Commission recommended for them . They had reasons to celebrate. Ghulam Nabi Azad gave nine times more to Kashmir region than what he gave to Jammu region over and above the recommendations of Wazir Commission. Surely it was the commitment of Kashmiri leaders towards Kashmir Valley that did not allow the Farooq Abdullah, Mufti and Azad Governments to implement Wazir Commission report (1984 ) to raise the number of Districts in Jammu Region from six to nine and in Kashmir Region from six to only seven.
The Wazir Commission remained on job from 12-11-1981 to 3-1-1984 and took 3 years to analyze and make recommendations. But it was so surprising that Ghulam Nabi Azad could reassess the whole issue in just half a year and finally order creation of 8 new districts as against only 4 recommended by Wazir Commission. Ghulam Nabi Azad tried to tactfully cover his unjust action in the name of Wazir Commission report. Some leaders from Jammu instead tried to help him earn some undue appreciations . Ghulam Nabi very cleverly tried to please the people of Valley by giving than four times more than what Wazir commission had recommended for them. The Kashmir valley has been brought at levels with Jammu by giving 10 districts as against 7 recommended by Wazir Commission.
Since the awareness is growing amongst the masses , in the times to come , it would have become very difficult to keep the seats in the legislative assembly for Jammu Region less than Kashmir Region had the number of Districts be more ( 9 in Jammu region and 7 in Kashmir region ) in Jammu Region .Section 50 of J&K Constitution has provided 14 elected MLCs ( Member Legislative Council ) to Jammu Region as against 12 elected MLCs to Kashmir Region in the Legislative Council. But in 1995 Justice K. K. Gupta Delimitation Commission had confirmed it ‘s earlier order of 1992 allocating 46 MLAs ( Member Legislative Assembly ) to Kashmir Region and only 37 MLAs to Jammu Region in total defiance to the provisions of J&K Representation of People Act 1957. This delimitation order was no more than a simple formality to cover the Draft proposals as were earlier notified by Justice Mian Jalalu Din Delimitation Commission ( Judge of J&K high court ) vide notification date 4-04-1989 . No one has so far answered the question that when Jammu Region has constitutionally more elected seats in the Legislative Council than Kashmir Region how could a Delimitation Commission could be fair in allocating lesser MLAs to Jammu region in the Legislative Assembly. More economic advantage would have come to Jammu Region over Kashmir had there been 9 Districts in Jammu and 7 in Kashmir.
One senior National Conference leader had argued that allegations for any unfair Delimitation can not be put on Kashmir Valley leaders since the 1995 Delimitation Commission was headed by a person belonging to Jammu Region. .Under any fair Delimitation it has to be 45 to 46 MLAs for Jammu and only 37 to 38 for Kashmir . Name of Wazir Commission report has been used by Congress in an attempt to gather some political mileage in competition to National Conference and PDP in Kashmir Valley. Congress never bothered for Jammu region since the local leaders never stood united for the Regional cause..
New districts of Shopian, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Ramban have been created over and above the recommendations of Wazir Commission . But had it been done with an honest motive then we would have seen some more Districts like even Akhnoor, Bani/ Basoli etc out of areas of Jammu region .The terrain of Kashnmir Region is mostly plain and easy where as it is very difficult in Jammu Region. The road connectivity and the geographical compactness too is very bad in Jammu region. Jammu region hence need be given atleast two to three more Districts .
And Ofcourse a still greater blow was inflicted on the fortunes of the people of Jammu Region in particular and the SC/ ST of J&K in particular by the National Conference dominated Legislative assembly by amending Section – 47 of the J&K Constitution through 29 th Constitution Amendment Act of 2002.Through this amendment it has been constitutionally laid down that any new Delimitation can be done only after the census results of any census done after 2026 AD are known. And hence next delimitation could be only after 2031 AD .
Possibilities should be seen for amending the 29th amendment through an ordinance by Governor But Congress and National Conference have to work to medicate people of Jammu and Ladakh Region of injuries allegedly inflicted by them in the past.
(*Daya Sagar is social activist and leading coloumnist on Kashmir affairs [email protected] www.dayasagr.blogspot.com) |
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