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| J&K: No alternative to trifurcation | | | NEHA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 6: The Government of India-appointed interlocutors visited the state last month for the fourth time since October 2010. During their interactions with Kashmiri people, barring the separatists, the interlocutors were clearly told that they would not accept anything short of a system that is outside the Indian Constitution. In fact, some of them talked in terms of complete political emancipation from India, some talked about greater autonomy and some talked about self-rule. A few of them also talked in terms of right to self-determination.
In Jammu, the interlocutors were told by one and all that they were opposed to the idea of the state becoming independent or merging with Pakistan. Even the Muslims of the Jammu province took this line and it was expected of them as they consider them as part of the national mainstream. The Congress also took a similar stand and opposed tooth and nail any solution that would drive the state away from the national mainstream. The BJP's stand was no different. It not only emphasized the need to abrogate Article 370 and integrate the state fully with India but also highlighted the issue of discrimination with Jammu. They demanded delimitation of assembly constituencies and a mechanism aimed at ending the scourge of discrimination with the people of Jammu province. The Panthers party demanded reorganization of the state. It said give Jammu province separate assembly, separate chief minister and so on. But more than that, it opposed vehemently the demands like autonomy, self-rule and independence.
The refugees from West Pakistan and refugees from the Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir not only demanded compensation and all the citizenship rights but also demanded scrapping of Article 370, saying this Article is the root cause of all troubles, as also the root cause of the problem they have been facing since 1947. They told the interlocutors that they would not get justice unless Article is abrogated. The displaced Kashmiri Hindus, who met the interlocutors, also put forth demands ranging from separate homeland to abrogation of Article 370 to full merger with India to elimination of the cult of violence.
The story of Ladakh was no different. The people of Leh district, without any exception, demanded Union Territory status, saying they would not like to have any kind of truck with Kashmir and the Kashmiri leadership that was responsible for the all round neglect of the region. They said no to all the demands being put forth by the Kashmiri separatists. The people of Kargil also opposed the demands like Azaadi and demilitarization of the state and urged the interlocutors to see to it they get sufficient funds for developmental activities in the extremely backward Kargil district.
The interlocutors have again decided to visit the state. They would be here anytime from now. This time their attempt would be to take on board the Kashmiri separatists and come out with what they called political solution. The Union Home Minister also talked about political settlement during his recent Jammu visit. Whether the interlocutors will succeed in meeting the separatists or not will be seen. But the grapevine is that the separatists would not meet them. Even if they meet them, they would rake up the issues they have been raking up since years and what they would tell the interlocutors would be utterly unacceptable to the people beyond the Kashmir Valley.
This is the whole situation. It is Kashmiri leadership versus all. There is no meeting ground. What, then, is the way out? Obviously, trifurcation of the state and bifurcation, or even trifurcation, of Kashmir is the only solution. Trifurcation of Kashmir because the displaced Kashmiri Hindus are not prepared to live under a dispensation the Kashmiri separatists have been striving to achieve. Similarly, the people who inhabit the mountainous areas of Kashmir do not share the political perceptions of the Valley-based leaders.
Hence, let the people of Jammu and Ladakh have dispensations of their own liking and let the Kashmiri leaders hold dialogue with New Delhi to explain their viewpoint subject to the condition that none of their separatist and communal demand shall be accepted by New Delhi. So, reorganization of the state is the only right answer. Sooner New Delhi accepts this reality the better. Otherwise, it would continue to grope in the dark and complicate further the already rather complicate situation in the state. It is always better to limit the area of contention and strife and then deal with it more effectively. Everyone knows that the area of contention and strife is a few pockets in the Kashmir Valley, where leaders and their followers belonging to a particular religious sect are involved in subversive and communal activities. |
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