Govt should not become party to any regional competition
Daya Sagar
Senior NC leader Ajay Sadotra has been quoted as having said that no decision for the site of the Central University in J&K has been taken yet and no team from MHRD has visited J&K for selection of land. J&K State Cabinet also resolved on July 31 to approach GOI for sanctioning two Central Universities for the two regions. May be GOI agrees for two Universities but still the need is to remove the misunderstandings like shifting the University to Kashmir that was sanctioned for Jammu .The inter-regional divides amongst the YOUTH of J&K must be checked.
Rather Omar Abdullah, the youthful CM, must come out with a whitepaper on the actual status on (i) the proposals and sanctions already issued for Central University for Jammu & Kashmir and (ii) the reasons for setting up the temporary office of the Vice Chancellor of Central University at Srinagar. Let Kashmir Region too get the Institutions that are needed there but Government should not become party to any regional competition {with bitterness} between the people as regards demands.
Those who claim that a Central University was sanctioned for locating in Jammu Region and land was selected in Samba district must too immediately come out with any documentary evidence that they have. The Divisional Commissioner Jammu has been quoted earlier by media as having denied this.
The student community of Jammu region is very much disturbed and is on the roads. Their protests are genuine. As regard setting up Central University in J and K, some statements and disclosures are being made daily by the leaders including those from within the present Government and those who have remained in the Government on the issue of setting up Central University . To check the confusions and a growing distrust the government should come out with a white paper on the sanction of Central University for J&K so that the issues could be targeted to a solution and the youth in particular is saved from divisive ideologies.
It was during the first quarter of 2008 that Ghulam Nabi Azad discussed the issues regarding Central University, IIM, Tribal University etc with the HRD and other ministries. The leadership from Jammu should have held the threads right from that time instead of raising the issue much later. It’s too late. Now the Vice Chancellor of the Central University has started operating from his office in Srinagar. If serious, the leadership should immediately come out shedding all political reservations to impress upon the Government that the backward and distanced areas of Jammu Region do need a Tribal University, IIM, IIT (IIIT ) and a Central University . Udhampur, Doda , Poonch / Rajouri Districts have genuine claims.
Regional divides have grown over the years between Jammu Region and Kashmir Region. The political leadership has rather more actively taken part in broadening the gulf after 1995. Someone may say it after 1990 but I shall not agree since at time local leaders were too weak to prepare a strong political working ground in J&K. The Militants and anti-India insurgents had in 1990 materially and psychologically overpowered the mainstream leadership of J&K. I would rather say, the leadership of Kashmir Valley, since it was only Kashmiri leaders who were till then more recognized by New Delhi to represent J&K.
After 1995 political fields were prepared under the security cover and with moral & economic support from New Delhi. But still under the circumstances the Kashmir based leaders had (were rather compelled} to behave more Kashmir specific. Valley specific social, economic and administrative issues appeared better tools to the political leaders in Kashmir Valley to gain some grounds over separatist forces and growing pressures of separatist ideology. 29th Constitutional amendment bill of 2002 was a step in this direction .Sanction of 4 new districts in 2006 for Kashmir Valley as against just one recommended by Wazir Commission (1984) too was one such action.
Kashmir Hindu had totally deserted the Kashmir Valley under the pressures of the pro Pakistan / anti Hindu elements in 1990. Migrants appeared having lost hopes of return to Valley. Since after 1990 over 98 % of local population in Valley comprised of Muslims any questions raised by people or parties for the cause of Jammu was named by some leaders from Valley as even anti Muslim. Inter regional issues between Jammu & Kashmir hence was given some communal face lift as well by some leaders. Very less has been done to check it.
At the same time the political competition for votes grew more in Kashmir valley amongst NC, PDP, Congress , others. Kashmiri leaderships looked for some new fields and strategies to expand their base out side Kashmir valley on regular basis. The Kashmir centric leadership had for over 50 years totally neglected far flung / distant /backward / poorly connected areas of Jammu region as regards education, employment, industry, local crafts , agriculture, horticulture and services .They started using the religious brotherhood tools in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and adjoining areas. They sensed some soft targets in the Muslim majority areas of Jammu region.
The people of poor backward areas of Jammu region were too innocent and simple to know level of neglect. No doubt the leadership in Jammu Region was more near to centers of information and power was based in Jammu district and they too did not move out near to areas Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, etc. Masses from Poonch/ Rajouri/ Doda who were otherwise the worst sufferers did not go with the protests / projects to undo the neglect of Jammu Region.
So in general when ever some major neglect was pointed out against Jammu region it was given the color of protests by Hindu majority areas.
Any how some local politicians did reap benefits on the side lines. The Shri Amarnath Yatra land agitation of June 2008 and half hearted delimitation commission demands could be quoted in this regard.
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