Vikramaditya Singh
This refers to the excellent article by Lt. General Bhopinder Singh in your esteemed paper, ‘When the Agenda of Jammu becomes bigger than Political Agendas’ on 14th May 2020.
He has rightly pointed out that from 1947 onwards Jammu has always been looked upon as the junior partner in this multi-regional State founded by the Dogras in 1846. While acknowledging the fractured socio-political nature of Jammu region, the General has provided useful and constructive suggestions asserting that discrimination against Jammu will continue until a larger common agenda along non-partisan lines emerges. Furthermore, he very rightly says that in Jammu the major political parties are peddling peripheral agendas, subliminal emotions and jingoism that short sells the much needed and tangible development focus of Jammu. Unfortunately, the people of Jammu region have never spoken in one voice or formed a consensus on important issues especially those regarding their future. Comparatively the regions of Kashmir and Ladakh are almost invariably united on important issues pertaining to their regions.
This regional imbalance has persisted, despite several efforts made by my father, Dr. Karan Singh, when he joined the Union Cabinet in 1967. Subsequently, two high-powered Commissions headed by former Chief Justices of India, the Gajendergadkar Commission in 1967 and the Sikri Commission in 1979 suggesting remedial measures for regional imbalances were set up. Several committees and round-tables were set up by the Government of India, but the problem still remains.
With the drastic reorganization of the State into two Union Territories, the re organization process of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is far from over. In my view the following five issues are of utmost importance to Jammu region and should be seriously considered.
* Restoration of full Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir along with a structure that ensures a fair distribution of political, financial and administrative authority between the two regions. The expensive and obsolete ‘durbar move’ can be dispensed with and a new structure put in place that ensures undisturbed year round administration of both regions.
* A fair delimitation of Assembly Constituencies should include allotting seats to lakhs of refugees in the Jammu region who remain dis-enfranchised, and also to Scheduled Tribes.
* Domiciliary provisions for safe-guarding purchase of land by people from outside the State can be considered along the lines of neighboring Hill States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. With safeguards in place for the local community, it is important that the laws must still allow for ease of purchase for Indian citizens.
* There should be an appropriate mention in our history books and education curriculum of the contributions made by successive Dogra rulers over a century. Presently, there is only cursory mention of them, and if anything, the Dogra rulers have been demonized by the dispensation at the time. The historic role played by the people of Jammu in founding and maintaining the unique multi-regional, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual State of Jammu & Kashmir remains largely unknown.
* If we want to see economic growth, then the projection of Jammu as an investor friendly region is imperative. Holding an investor summit in Jammu for creation of investment opportunities is a suggestion I made to the Lt. Governor in my letter of December, 2019. All viable avenues to generate revenue and employment must be explored.
In my view these five issues should be taken up by the people of Jammu region regardless of their political, religious, linguistic or any other identity. While the Kashmir Valley continues to simmer, Jammu remains the truly inclusive and more vibrant region of the State reflecting the real idea of India. However, presently, Jammu appears to be spinning in a downward cycle as brought out in Gerenal Bhopinder Singh’s recent article in your paper.
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