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| Problem of Jammu & Ladakh political, they need political package, not task force | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sep 26: New Delhi has once again badly let down Jammu and Ladakh. It has again given a preferential treatment to Kashmir. It has given incentives to those who attacked the Army, paramilitary forces and the state police. It has asked the state government to release those involved in the anti-state and anti-government activities. It has asked the Chief Minister to convene the Unified Command meeting to review the AFSPA and the defence-related issue. In fact, it has given everything to Kashmir.
It is a different matter that Kashmir has expressed its unhappiness over what New Delhi has given to it. And, its response is on expected lines. The Kashmiri leadership wants Pakistan, independence, greater autonomy and self-rule and what New Delhi has given them is at least three interlocutors who will discuss the issues with everyone in the state - separatists, mainstream leaders, student organizations and members of civil society and suggest measures that could resolve the Kashmir problem. Still, it can be said that New Delhi's whole approach is Kashmir-centric. There is no change whatsoever. This is a bad omen.
On the other hand, as was expected, New Delhi has dismissed Jammu, Ladakh and refugees with contempt. Just look at the 8-point package Home Minister P Chidambaram announced with much fanfare on Saturday on behalf of the Union Government and you will see for yourself that there is nothing whatever in the package for the refugees from West Pakistan, Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir and refugees from Kashmir Valley. There is not even a passing reference about these most ignored and persecuted communities. They should have been paid special attention because they represent the most neglected lot in the state; because they stand totally alienated from Kashmir and from New Delhi. But New Delhi has, it appears, gone by the advice of the vindictive and biased state government and left all these refugees in the lurch and to the care of God.
As for Jammu and Ladakh, the package envisages appointment of two "Special Task Forces, one each for Jammu region and Ladakh region, to examine the developmental needs of two regions, with particular reference to deficiencies in infrastructure and make suitable recommendations." It is nothing but an insult of the people of Jammu and Ladakh. That Jammu and Ladakh are the most neglected regions is too well known. There are reports and reports and the official statistics that have established from time to time that the share of the people of Jammu and Ladakh in the developmental sector is inadequate, negligible and that it is Kashmir that has benefited itself at the cost of these two regions.
Hence, there was no need for the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to think in terms of appointing two task forces for these two regions. By appointing these task forces, the Government of India has made it loud and clear that the people of Jammu and Ladakh have no space whatsoever in its political scheme of things and that it considers Kashmir and Kashmir's political aspirations (read separatist aspirations) of paramount importance.
Jammu and Ladakh do not need task forces. The problem in Jammu and Ladakh is fundamentally political and both these regions need political packages. They need independence from Kashmiri leadership. They need a political system that is independent of Kashmir and that is within India and strictly under the Indian Constitution. They do not want to keep any kind of truck with Kashmir where the separatists and the so-called mainstream leaders speak in one voice, of course, from different platforms as part of the meticulously devised strategy to harm India and ensure step-by-step the state's separation from India. They have been struggling to link their political and economic destiny with New Delhi ever since October 1947, when the Congress leadership of the time conspired against the people of Jammu and transferred political power from Jammu to one individual, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah whose hatred for Jammu was not a secret.
The people of Jammu and Ladakh have been fighting relentlessly for a dispensation that enables them to shape and mould their political and economic destiny themselves in a meaningful manner and as per their specific needs, compulsions and aspirations. They have all along fought against politics of separatism and communalism as taken recourse to be the Kashmiri leaders. Their battle-cry all along was, and continues to be, complete merger with India. They are nt going to dilute their stand, come what may.
The government of India wants to assuage the hurt feelings of the people of Jammu and Ladakh by setting up task forces. New Delhi wants to win over the alienated Jammu and Ladakh by giving them crumbs. This is not going to happen. Their problem is political and it needs a political solution. And, the political solution lies in the division of the state or creation of Jammu and Ladakh States. Hence, it would be only prudent on the part of New Delhi to revise its policy towards Jammu and Ladakh. Not to do so or to continue to accord a shabby treatment to Jammu and Ladakh would be only to complicate further the already rather complicated situation in the state. That the people of Jammu province have in one voice rejected outright the New Delhi's package is a proof that they are for a political settlement of their problem and not for petty and illusory concessions. |
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