news details |
|
|
| Autonomy for whom: Jammu, Kashmir or Ladakh? | | |
News Analysis
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 6: Having being ignored in the Valley and Ladakh, Justice Sagir report did create a political storm in Jammu though of a low magnitude.
Amid strikes, heated discussions and debates in Jammu, the primary question remained unanswered. Who needs autonomy any way? Ladakh has it, Jammu does not want it and the Valley people have rejected it.
As far as the Valley is concerned, autonomy is a non issue. They have been striving for a different goal notwithstanding their massive participation in the assembly elections held last year.
Barring National Conference nobody else in the Valley needs autonomy. For political reasons, if it is projected as the main demand of the Valley people by vested interests, the government of India needs to do some serious home work to ascertain which way the wind blows in the region.
Jammu and Ladakh always wanted greater integration with India. In fact, anti autonomy voices have been heard from Jammu from the very beginning. Who can forget Eak vidaan eak pradaan slogans that gave sleepless nights to Sher-e-Kashmir?
And as far as Ladakh is concerned, Leh and Kargil have been got hill councils. What else do they need? The issues in Jammu and Ladakh are entirely different. If Kashmir wants autonomy, Jammu and Ladakh need autonomy from Kashmir. If Kashmir wants to preserve its political and cultural identity from `Indian onslaught’, the other regions like Leh and Jammu’s Hindu belt and some other minorities, want safeguards from Kashmir. In fact the regions want a form of Azadi from Kashmir.
According to analysts in the Valley, the Jammu uproar is totally unfounded. The report has not recommended anything. On the contrary it has transgressed its brief by suggesting various other things such as reservations for ST women, issue of migrant rehabilitation, discrimination against Jammu, delimitation etc. The report has made a passing reference of autonomy and has not analyzed its significance if it has any in the changed scenario.
It seems Justice sager has reluctantly dealt with the issue of autonomy. “The question of autonomy and its demand can be examined in the light of Kashmir Accord or in some other manner or on the basis of some other formulae as the present Prime Minister may deem appropriate so as to restore the autonomy to the extent possible.” There is nothing new in this. Every body knows that the Prime Minister has to explore possibilities of restoration of autonomy.
Social workers and intellectuals from India have gone to the extent of demanding Azadi for Kashmir.
However, the state needs restructuring. Infact this process is already in progress, people only need to understand its implications. The autonomy for the entire state of Jammu Kashmir, according to noted Valley based political commentator, PG Rasool, is a moor’s sigh – it is no longer relevant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
