Sir,
I was just pondering over the two Editorials which appeared in Daily Excelsior on 14 October 2024. Both the writers have conflicting views about the Jammu & Kashmir elections. One says that “Jammu is Yearning for Statehood” while the other says that “The People have voted for a “Naya Kashmir”. But if we carry out a micro analysis of the elections held with a gap of 10 years and after abrogation of the Article 370/35A, it is evident that results of both the regions are nothing but a REFERENDUM. Kashmir has voted with No Entry for outsiders, while Jammu has explicitly expressed its desire to be free from the age old subjugation of the Valley to have an independent identity. The aspirations of the Jammu people which comprises of 62% must be respected by the current government at the Centre.
Especially, if Ladakh could be sliced away for the similar reasons, then why not Jammu ? This is despite the fact that during Governor’s rule of 10 years, maximum funds were pumped and resources diverted for the developmental activities of the Valley which made a phenomenal progress. Not that Jammu was totally ignored, but comparatively it got some left over crumbs , almost the same way as was the past practice.
The BJP local leadership was in total disconnect and therefore it should not get carried away with the impression that it is their performance vote, if that was so, then it would have found itself difficult to find a hideout ! Jammu has voted for only one Leader and that’s the PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI with the expectation that their aspirations of a separate Jammu State would be fulfilled.
Lalit Gupta
Sr. Citizen, Jammu
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