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| Bhim takes on Geelani, hits nail on the head | | | Neha
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 9: Situation in Jammu province is likely to deteriorate. A number of developments have taken place during the past few days which have left the Dogras with no other option but to create the 2008-like situation to defeat the regressive forces in Kashmir, defend and preserve their distinct identity and identify themselves completely with the national mainstream. In fact, what has happened in the state during the past few days has created a situation in the Jammu province that has the potential of dividing the state. One of the major causes that has all the ingredients of motivating, or even provoking, the people of Jammu province to take recourse to the methodology they adopted in 2008 to force the authorities to retransfer the Baltal land in Kashmir to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for creating more facilities for the Shri Amarnath pilgrims is the bitter opposition of Kashmiri separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to the government decision to issue Dogra certificates to the Dogras (Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs included) of Jammu province.
It was expected that the Jammu-based political groupings would take on the Kashmiri communalists, who have scant regard for the sensitivities of the Dogras and who have been seeking to impose their pernicious and poisonous ideology on them, and it has happened. The BJP, the Duggar Pradesh Party (DPP) and the JKNPP have all condemned the Kashmiri separatists and warned the authorities in the state that any move on their part to amend the government order or withdraw it under the baneful influence of the vicious propaganda unleashed by Geelani & Co would be resisted with full force.
Chairman of the JKNPP Bhim Singh has even gone to the extent of writing a detailed letter to Geelani and asked him not to poke his dirty nose in the matter. As a matter of fact he has hit the nail on the head by putting things in perspective. He has written: "I was astonished to read your (Geelani's) views on the issuance of Dogra Certificate to the Dogras. All of us are aware, rather fully aware, that we have got three distinct major cultures in J&K; Ladakhi, Kashmiri and Dogra, besides other distinguished fraternities who have been residing in perfect cordial atmosphere for nearly two centuries. The Ladakhis were granted ST status and none of us had any problem, rather all of us welcomed that. You are also aware that the Gorkhas and the Dogras were given some relaxation in height measurement for the enrolment in the army, may be, long before the Treaty of Amritsar was signed between Maharaja Gulab Singh and the East India Company in 1846… The Dogra Certificates were issued normally by Gazetted Officers to the Dogras, irrespective of their caste or religion, which were helpful to the Dogra youth in seeking recruitment in the army etc. You also know that Dogras are not associated with any religion and caste it is an ethnic group of the people belonging to the mountains in Jammu or adjoining areas. The ethnicity of a person or a tribe does not change even if there is a change of residence or religion. Word 'Dogra' is associated with a cultural identity as great as the Kashmiriat or Ladhakiat is. Dogra Certificate does not devolve any specific or particular beneficial title on the certificate holders… State of J&K has different cultures and regions with distinguished people in each region. Our diversity is the main source of our unity."
What Bhim Singh has written is absolutely correct. Leave aside his false assertion - "Our diversity is the main source of our unity." His assertion to this effect is misleading. It is misleading because everyone in Jammu province knows that there is no love lost between Jammu and Kashmir and between the latter and Ladakh and that it is the Kashmiri leadership, which is backed to the hilt by New Delhi, that is responsible for the prevailing unrest outside the Kashmir Valley. His assertion also appears surprising considering the fact that the JKNPP has adopted reorganization of the state on regional basis as its "Agenda 2011." He himself has written in his new book on Jammu and Kashmir that the formation of Jammu and Kashmir was a "Historical blunder."
However, to say all this is not to undermine the significance of the state he and his party have taken on the issue the Dogras hold very dear. He has undoubtedly exposed Geelani and shown him his rightful place.
There is a report that Congress leader and Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla met the Chief Minister yesterday, discussed with him the whole issue and told him that he would not withdraw the order under which the Dogras have been given the right to obtain Dogra certificate. It is obvious that he knows what would happen in Jammu in case the said order is withdrawn. He needs to stick to his stand because the situation as it has emerged in the Jammu province warrants such an approach.
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