‘Political ambience in Srinagar much more mistrustful & tense’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: The `Concerned Citizens Group’, a non-official group of prominent individuals with an objective to act a bridge between the people of J&K and the rest of India, has observed that various social and ethnic groups as well as communities in Jammu region seem resentful because of the various issues affecting them, besides the anger over loss of Statehood.
In its latest report after a recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Group has expressed its observations over a number of issues, including the situation in Jammu, worsening public mood, environment of political distrust, media distress and also impact of the Bollywood movie The Kashmir Files.
“The full impact of the abrogation of Article 35A began to be felt following the change in the domicile policy which opened the doors to residents from outside J&K to acquire jobs, land purchase, mining rights, liquor shops etc. These policies have been unpopular with the Jammuites,” observed the Group after meeting with business leaders, political and community leaders.
However, the report added, there is no political party or a political leader articulating their anger to mobilize people politically.
The Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) also observed that the political ambience in Srinagar was much more mistrustful and tense than during its earlier visits. “Many civil society leaders and friends pleaded apprehension in meeting the group. There seemed to be a pervasive air of uncertainty at the level of the political leadership and on the ground,” reads the report, adding that the political leadership was of the opinion that the delimitation proposed by the present Delimitation Commission was tendentious and aimed at polarization of communities.
The CCG has also claimed that there was a sense of fear among media practioners, who complained of constant surveillance and abolition of the Kashmir Press Club. The report has quoted a senior journalist saying: “What they are doing to the Kashmir media today will come to visit journalists in the rest of India tomorrow. Kashmir is only a laboratory for testing how far the media can be controlled. They will perfect their techniques here and then use them in other parts of India as well.”
A recurring theme during this visit of the CCG to both Kashmir Valley and Jammu was the feature film `The Kashmir Files’ and almost everyone that the group members met, had strong views about the possible impact of the film on the politics of J&K as well as that of rest of India.
“Almost the entire opinion spectrum in the Valley conveyed to our group that the film sought to give a spin to the deeply tragic and unfortunate exodus of Pandits by weaponising their sufferings and marketing their pain for politico-commercial considerations and possible electoral dividends,” reads the report, adding that the majority community fears that their wards and relatives studying and working in the rest of India could come to harm under the prevalent environment of polarization and communal tension.
The visiting CCG consists of Wajahat Habibullah (former Chairman of the Minority Commission and first CIC of India), Sushobha Barve, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Kapil Kak and journalist Bharat Bhushan.
During the visit, the CCG members met several political leaders, including Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Sajjad Lone, Mohd Yusuf Tarigami, civil society and business leaders, trade organizations, journalists, Panchayat heads and community leaders, both in Srinagar and Jammu.
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