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| Separation from Valley must, if Jammu to lead a dignified life | | Dogra Certificate Issue | |
MINCING NO WORDS
NEHA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 17: It was on March 25, 2011 that the Revenue Department issued order No. Rev (LB) 69 of 2011, dated March 25, 2011 that empowered the Dogras, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, of Jammu province to obtain Dogra certificates so that they enjoy certain relaxations in the rules governing recruitment to the Army and the Central paramilitary forces. And, it was on April 7 that another order to the same effect was issued. It was order No. Rev (LB) 52 of 2011, dated April 7, 2011. Ever since then, a number of Kashmiri leaders, both separatist as well as the so-called mainstream” leaders have been opposing tooth and nail the same order. Some have been demanding its wholesale withdrawal and others are asking the government to modify the same in order to address the concerns shown, particularly by the separatists and a section of the PDP leadership hailing from Kashmir.
Significantly, the attitude of the ruling NC has been no different. In fact, both the NC president and his Chief Minister son have expressed views, which, if given an effect to, would mean collapse of the order concerning the issuance of Dogra certificates. Both want to create a powerful counterpoise to the just aspirations and hopes of the Dogras, who have never received due share in the state’s political, economic and social processes, as the Kashmiri leadership has always evolved and implemented policies that suit only Kashmir and a particular religious sect.
As if all this was not enough to cause unrest in Jammu province and offend the Dogras, one Kashmiri Mohammad Altaf Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan of Porwara Chadoora in Budgam district has knocked at the doors of a court and obtained an order to the effect that the operation of the said orders be kept in abeyance till the objections are filed by the state government. The court of Sub Judge Budgam, Parvez Hussain Kachroo, passed this interim order on April 16. The case has been listed for April 30 for next hearing.
Everyone has the right to go to the court and the court, too, has the right to play its role. This is an altogether a different issue and, hence, it doesn’t form part of this story. The issue under scrutiny is the negative attitude of the Kashmiri leaders and common Kashmiris towards the Dogras and their vehement opposition to the order that doesn’t give any substantial concession to them. It is paltry concession by any standard – a relaxation that is available to several other ethic groups across the country, including the Marathas and the Gurkhas.
It is pertinent to mention here that Mohammad Altaf Bhat has advanced arguments in his petition which are similar to the ones being advanced on a daily basis by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other anti-Dogra elements. His arguments are: “The said government order is aimed at creating a separate class of people within J&K and (the) same can also disintegrate the people of the state on ethnic lines”; and “that the issuance of Dogra Certificate, besides being in violation of provisions of Constitution of J&K, has drawn flak from legal experts and legislators and has effect of influencing Panchyat polls and has caused great prejudice to the interests of the public as well as the plaintiff.”
What Bhat has said in his petition should leave none in any doubt that even the common Kashmiris like him have no soft corner for the Dogras and that the Kashmiri leadership and the likes of Bhat want a system that is exclusively of them, by them and for them and a system that rigorously excludes the Dogras from all walks of life. That they are opposing the government order despite the fact that it has no bearing whatever on Kashmir and the Kashmiris clearly shows that they and the Dogras just cannot co-exist under one system.
What, then, is the way out for the Dogras? If they wish to lead a dignified life as Indian nationals, they have no other option but to seek separation from Kashmir. In separation from Kashmir is imperative, if Jammu is to lead a dignified life and protect its dignity and honour
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