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| Message from Bani >> Jammu & Ladakh regions have not been fairly treated all these years | | A Look Through the Mist | | Daya Sagar | 12/12/2010 12:37:29 AM |
| JK Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma’s address at a Congress rally (chaired by Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz ) at Bani on 5th December has raised controversies. The Kashmiri separatist ,the main stream Kashmiri leaders , BJP, JK NPP and some Congressmen have raised voice against Sham Lal Sharma. No doubt,some may be envy to his”growth”/ progress. I would not like to defend or question Mr. Sham Lal. But surely I would like to address some aspects of the issues that were aired at Bani.
To be brief, Sham Lal has been accused of having said that Kashmir / Kashmiries be given Azadi where as Jammu Region be made a State of Union of India and Ladakh be made a Union Territory. His ( reportedly) saying that Kashmir be given Azadi has been agitated the most by some of his political rivals as well as the BJP & parties like JKNPP. As regards his making some reference to demand for making Jammu a full-fledged State and Ladakh a Union Territory it has not been resented that much by BJP / JKNPP. May be some Jammu based parties would not like his snatching away their exclusive right on raising the cause of Jammu region. Reorganisation of J&K has been surely questioned by his opponents in Congress and those in NC / PDP / Kashmir Valley centric domain. The content of his speech has been reported differently by agencies/ daily news papers. PTI reported from Bani , quote < "You need to come out of Kashmir-centric approach. I tell Congress, if you want autonomy or self-rule for Kashmir then you need to separate Jammu as a state and declare Ladakh as a Union Territory,"…….. "Jammu does not get its share. Kashmir snatches its share and gets lion's share... So the need is to get united and get your share," …..The minister was first among Congress leaders in Jammu to support Amarnath land row agitation in 2008. > unquote. Surely the PTI dispatch did not have any thing that controversial , but other reports did carry different messages..
The reference, style and tone with which the Health Minister used the word Azadi would have left different impressions on different people. But one thing that can not be brushed aside is that he expressed his heartfelt feelings and assessments about the neglect that the lands & people of Jammu region have faced over the years. Later Sham Lal issued a signed statement to media on 7th December in which he clarified what he wanted to say and what was his intention. The gist that emerges from his signed statement is that he had (a) no intention for suggesting Independence / separation ( from India ) for Kashmir Region, (b) Government has been overlooking the serious challenges / questions being raised by Kashmir centric leaders as regards the truthfullness of Union of India towards JK and (c) has been instead neglecting the genuine demands and sufferings of the people of Jammu Region. So since the J&K Health Minister has issued a signed statement to media on the subject let us (a) not go into the tone and tide of the speech of the Health Minister and (b) but go with his signed statement.
But still there is some thing that must not be ignored by GOI.. And that is about neglect and unfair treatment given to the people and a lands of Jammu Region. Inspite of so much care and attention given to Kashmir Valley even the main stream leaders so often question the intentions of New Delhi. So, even if Sham Lal has directly or indirectly suggested that it would be better to address the questions from Kashmir valley by isolating it locally from Jammu and Ladakh regions (though he has denied it suggesting that what he meant was that demands like that would gain grounds ), no ill should be seen in it. In no way it could be attributed to him that he had suggested for separating the Kashmir region territorially from India. Had he any intentions for suggesting Azadi for Kashmir Valley , he would not have simultaneously talked of Statehood for Jammu and UT for Ladakh. So in view of what he has expressed in writing let Delhi and his people believe that { not simply going by the emotional tone and tide of speech) what he professed was that (a) there was total discrimination with people outside Kashmir Valley and (b) the Kashmir valley turmoil could better be settled by localizing the issues amongst Jammu Region, Ladakh Region and Kashmir Region.
The Bani episode surely has some constructive messages for New Delhi and State government. It has been observed that what Omar's Health Minister has said has not been received with that difference by non political circles in Jammu, Ladakh and even some in Kashmir Region. Many NC / Congress men from Jammu Region could be expressing similar sentiments privately. Though the separatists have got alarmed with the signals that have emerged after 5th December , still they have tried to use the reference / controversy of the term “Azadi” to support their cause. After Sham Lal has clarified ( indirectly) spirit behind his using the word Azadi in his speech the separatists too should settle down.
Can any one deny what Sham Lal said at Bani as regards the relative developmental allocations to Jammu region and Kashmir region. But surely it was the common man who was speaking out of him. No doubt his official status demanded that he should have remained within the arena of the coalition / party political norms. May be his style was more vocal and uncontrolled Still his party should accommodate the spirit and truthfulness that he demonstrated at Bani.
No doubt it is for Congress party and Chief Minister to examine the episode from party politics and administrative angles. But simultaneously (a]Omar Abdullah Government, ( b) Government at New Delhi and (c) the opinion makers / analysts who see J&K only in Kashmir Valley need to catch on some very true message that has emerged from Bani. The message is that the Jammu and Ladakh regions have been under rated as regards their importance and needs by Delhi.
It may not be that fair to use the word discrimination, but surely Jammu and Ladakh Regions . Over the years, have been neglected by the Governments from political, administrative , economic and social angles. The neglect of Jammu region could well be seen in (A) Before 1947 invasion Jammu region had 5 Districts { Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Mirpur} and two Jagirs ( Poonch and Chenani ). Where as Kashmir Region had only three districts { Anantnag, Baramulla and Muzafarabad ). As on date some areas of Mirpur district and Muzafarrabad are in POK. As far as the administrative units of Maharaja's J&K are concerned, before 1975, Jammu Region had six districts ( Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch and Doda } spread over nearly 26000 sq Km where as Kashmir region had only three ( Anantnag, Baramulla and Srinagar ) districts( 2.5 Districts of Pre 1947 days ) spread over nearly 16000 sq km . No heed to the needs and backwardness of the people of Jammu region was paid as regards increasing number of districts in 1978/79. But as regards Kashmir region the number was increased to 6 districts ( Srinagar, Badgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama ). This surely made the case of Kashmir Division more stronger for additional development funds based on the number of districts. Where as the cause of Jammu region was neglected. Similarly Wazir Commission recommended three new districts for Jammu region in 1984 { Samba/ Bahu, Reasi and Kishtwar ) and one more for Kashmir division. This way Jammu region would have got development funds taking into consideration 9 districts and Kashmir division by keeping in view only 7 districts. But Wazir Commission report was not implemented putting the people of most backward areas of Kishtwar, Rajouri and Samba to great financial disadvantage. And to add to this, so strangely, it was in 2006 that without any rational study Ghulam Nabi Azad lead Congress government carved 4 more districts in Kashmir Division and equal number in Jammu region. The over all net financial advantage went to Kashmir Region. The local Congress leaders of Jammu region { like Sham Lal Sharma ) did feel very much let down before their people.
( B) Similarly even the Delimitation Commissions have extended unfair treatments to poor, backward and distantly placed people of Jammu region as regards the State Legislative Assembly. Section 50 of J&K Constitution provided 14 elected Members in Legislative Council { MLCs} to the areas falling in Jammu region and only 12 elected Members in Legislative Council { MLCs} to areas falling in Kashmir Region. But in (a) total disregard to the signals emerging from Section 50 of JK Constitution and (b) in total violation of the provisions as laid down in the J&K Representation of the Peoples Act 1957 , the Delimitation Commission distributed 46 MLAs over Kashmir Region and only 37 MLAs over Jammu region { how funny Jammu region has more elected MLCs as per Constitution but as per Delimitation Commission in LA it has lesser MLAs. Worst suffers have the people of Doda, Udhamour, Kathua, Rajouri etc.}.
Neglect of the regions named by Sham Lal Sharma could be well seen in tourism and communication sectors as well. A 18 Km road from Patnitop to Sanasar could not be made tourist friendly even in two decades. The CEO of Mansar Saruinsar Development Authority is still operating from Vikram Chowk.
The Finance Commission report presented by JK Finance Commission has been no different. Two members of the Commission have revealed to the media that they have submitted dissenting views on the report that was submitted by the Chairman covering the 11th Five year plan to the Chief Minister on 30th November. I would not go into the minors of report here. But still it could be asked that (a) was there any logical and justified reasoning for higher financial recommendations in favour of Kashmir Region and (b) why did the two resenting members of the Finance Commission not resign from the commission before the report was prepared and submitted. They should have well known much earlier the way { as alleged by them } the Chairman was intending to conclude the report. It is not out of place to mention here that the J&K Finance Commission was constituted on August 31, 2006 and has remained on the job for nearly 3 years more than the original term., What purpose the dissenting notes would serve now is not understood. Dissenting members have remained associated with the FC for over four years that has cost the exchequer huge sums. The tales are not new. Delimitation Commissions for single member segments of J&K Legislature too flowed in the similar streams.
So, both State and Central Governments must catch constructive messages from the Bani episode and should atleast now come out of political shackles (*Daya Sagar is a social activist and leading coloumnist on J&K Affairs [email protected] 9419796096)
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