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| Addresses of Governor, Chief Minister not really inspiring | | | RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 27: The nation in general and the people of Jammu province in particular were expecting that the Jammu and Kashmir Governor and Chief Minister would on the eve of and on the Republic Day unfold an official policy calculated to end the menace of terrorism, separatism and communalism in Kashmir and enunciate steps aimed at meeting the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu province, who have been suffering enormous losses due to the discriminatory policies. Unfortunately, nothing of this sort happened. What happened was to the contrary, leave aside the negative and provocative attitude of the state government towards the BJP-sponsored Ekta Yatra and the BJP's resolve to hoist national flag at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on the Republic Day.
Neither the Governor nor the Chief Minister thought it prudent to send a clear signal to the anti-national forces and communalists that in case they fail to reform themselves, they would be dealt with severely in accordance with the law of the land. On the contrary, both of them spoke the language that simply suggested that the state government would continue to adopt a very soft approach towards those in Kashmir who have convulsed and bloodied the Kashmir scene and disturbed its socio-religious and political equilibrium. Both of them urged the extremists to join the dialogue process so that the so-called Kashmir issue could be resolved to their satisfaction. Both of them only vindicated the stand of those who have been not taking kindly to the official policy towards Jammu and Kashmir and accusing the Kashmir-based leadership and its cronies in Jammu as well as the powers-that-be in New Delhi of pursuing policies that have only served to further embolden the undesirable elements and demoralized those who believe in the unity and integrity of India and very close relations between the state and the Centre.
It would not be out of place to mention here that while the Governor highlighted the appointment of interlocutors for the state, urged the security forces to ensure "zero tolerance of human rights violations" while carrying out "anti-terrorist operations" and hailed the state government for its decision to induce the Kashmiri terrorists and separatists based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir to come back and avail official facilities, including financial assistance, the Chief Minister reiterated that the financial and employment packages would not end alienation of Kashmiri Muslims. The Chief Minister, who did not hoist the national flag, as a matter of fact, reiterated that Kashmir (read Jammu and Kashmir) is a political problem and it needs to be resolved politically. In other words, he once again contested the claim of those who believe that the state is an integral part of India and the accession of the state to India is legal and non-negotiable. He also sought to create an impression that the political settlement he talked about would also be imposed on the unwilling people of Jammu and Ladakh and other pro-India segments.
The Governor and the Chief Minister not only disappointed the nation by raking up the long-settled issue and by not enunciating measures designed to end the over 20-year-old orgy of death and destruction in the state in general and the Kashmir Valley in particular, but also disappointed further the already rather alienated people of Jammu province whose human rights have been ruthlessly violated and who have been denied their due in the state's political and economic processes. The people of Jammu province, who have been denied representation in the legislature and whose share in other sectors, including service sector and professional technical institutions, is just negligible, were expecting that the 62th Republic Day would end their night of discontent and despair and with it commence an era full of hope and promise for the future. No, nothing of this sort happened. Neither the Governor nor the Chief Minister thought it appropriate to address the concerns of the people of Jammu province.
It can be said that the addresses of the Governor and the Chief Minister were one-region and one-community-centric and this is not a right approach. Both of them hold constitutional offices. Both are required to not only defend and promote the national cause but also to ensure that the people inhabiting different regions of the state are treated equally at all levels and in all spheres. They should not forget that the people of Jammu province are an extremely angry lot. To ignore them and the national sentiment would only to create more difficulties in the state and add to the anger of the whole of the nation.
One can only hope and pray that good sense would finally prevail and the Governor and the Chief Minister would refashion their whole approach towards the nation and the people of Jammu province. Kashmir is already over-developed and over-fed. It is the people of Jammu province and other deprived sections that need special care and special attention. Will the Governor and the Chief Minister rise to the occasion and do the needful? |
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