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| Bhalla would have become Jammu's hero but he lost the opportunity | | | Neha
JAMMU, May 2: Congress leader and Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla should not have issued order on Dogra certificate on March 25, as there was no need for that considering the fact that certain relaxations in rules governing recruitment to the Army were already available to the Dogras of Jammu province, irrespective of their caste and creed. But once he took the decision, he should have stuck to it at any cost. In fact, reacting to the opposition of the Kashmiri leaders to his order, Bhalla had denounced them and declared that the "order will not be revoked." He had said that there was nothing extraordinary in his order and that he had only simplified the rules governing the issuance of Dogra certificates. He had made such assertions during an interview to the correspondent of a Jammu-based English language daily. His assertions were emphatic and unambiguous and he gave everyone to understand that he would not kneel, come what may, and that he would stick to the order he issued.
In fact, after his interview, a report in a local daily had suggested that the Chief Minister had summoned him at his residence to discuss the whole issue concerning the Dogra certificate and that Bhalla had refused to yield. Thereafter, he, along with another Congress minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, addressed a press conference in Srinagar wherein the ministers sought to allay the Kashmiris' fears arising out of the Revenue Department's order. What they said during the press conference did suggest that Bhalla might stick to his stand, notwithstanding the fact that Mhi-ud-Din did say that the matter would be discussed in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet meeting did take place thereafter, but no decision was taken. Again, there were reports that Bhalla had held his ground and that certain Kashmir-based ministers took on Bhalla, saying he created a bitter controversy by not taking into confidence the cabinet before taking decision. The sources within the government said the cabinet could not take any decision, as the matter was sub-judice. It was only on April 28, when the matter was still sub-judice, that the state cabinet revoked the order issued by Bhalla. The meeting took place at Srinagar, with Bhalla becoming a party to the decision.
Had Bhalla resisted and opposed the move initiated by the anti-Dogra elements in the establishment and come out of the government relinquishing his office, he would have Jammu's hero, but he lost the God-sent opportunity. He not only lost an invaluable opportunity, but he also became an object of criticism. Bhalla will have to work very heard to assuage the hurt feelings of the Dogras. But more than that, he will have to work quite hard in his constituency, which is highly literate, discerning and politically awakened. Gandhi Nagar is a very difficult urban constituency and he just cannot ignore this fact.
Right now the position is that the Dogras are chaffing and seething with an extreme form of anger, notwithstanding the fact that the revocation of the order has nothing to do with the practice that was prevalent before March 25. They are feeling badly let down and humbled by someone about whom they had always thought otherwise. There is no doubt that the Revenue Minister has dented his image by becoming party to the decision that the state government took under pressure from the Kashmir-based anti-India and anti-Dogra forces. It would indeed be very interesting to know as to what does in the coming days to salvage his dented position. |
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