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| Significant Development: Lawyers also demand local VC for CU | | STARK REALITY | |
RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 17: Jammu is, it appears, again preparing itself for a protracted struggle against the authorities in the state and Delhi. The issue that has irritated and angered the Jammu-centric groups this time is the reported move of the authorities to appoint former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, or any other "outsider" as Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu, which the people of Jammu got after a long struggle. What has given a further Philip to the ongoing activities in the Jammu University and outside designed to force the authorities to appoint a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu is the decision of the Jammu Bar Association (BAJ) to take the plunge and support the demand for a local Vice-Chancellor.
Supporting the demand for appointing a "local incumbent to the top post in the upcoming Central University" in Jammu, the BAJ secretary has "warned the Government of India against testing the patience of Jammuites every now and then" and reiterated its resolve that "BAJ would not lag behind in case Jammu is discriminated (against), let down or any outsider, including from Kashmir, is imposed as Vice-Chancellor on the Central University of Jammu". The BAJ secretary has gone to the extent of reminding the Government of India of the Amarnath agitation days" and told the authorities that the people of Jammu province "can bear any loss if their sentiments are hurt". He has cautioned the authorities not to fall "prey to the anti-Jammu forces, including Kashmiri rulers who earlier tried to deprive Jammu (of its right to have) Central University". The BAJ secretary made its stand on the issue of the Central University Vice-Chancellor clear on Thursday (April 15).
The entry of the BAJ into the movement has created a noble situation in the Jammu province and the authorities have to tackle the situation. They can tackle the situation only if they are prepared to go by the Jammu sentiment and appoint a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu. The authorities cannot ignore the BAJ as well as the newly founded Jammu Central University Morcha (JCUM), an amalgam of several Jammu-based small political and social groups and student organizations. The bulk of civil society in Jammu also wants a local to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the Central University. There is a general consensus in Jammu on this issue.
It may be mentioned that it was the JCUM that took the first initiative in the direction. It has been mobilizing the public opinion since April 6, when it organized a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan and sent a detailed memorandum to the Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and President of India. It has been organizing press conference and seeking to bring different formations on one platform since then so that it could achieve its demand sooner than later. It has now decided to organize corner meetings across Jammu province, launch signature campaign and hold more dharnas. Besides, it has decided to meet all the political parties to enlist their support for what it calls "Jammu cause".
The viewpoint of the BAJ and the JCUM is almost similar. The JCUM has advanced several arguments in support of its demand. Some of them are: 1. "The people of Jammu province in general and the student community and the teaching fraternity in particular are seething with anger and threatening massive unrest in the province in case an outsider, including anyone from Kashmir, is imposed on the Central University as Vice-Chancellor". 2. "Former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Amitabh Mattoo and Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Technical University, Kashmir, Sidiq Wahid…are highly controversial and both have negative approach towards India...They are biased in favour of separatists, communalists and Pakistan…" 3. "The people of Jammu province are highly talented, but they, unlike the people of Kashmir, do not enjoy any official patronage. That's the reason they have suffered worst form of discrimination during all these years…This type of official approach is not acceptable to them any longer". (To be continued)
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