Govt should not become party to any regional competition--Whitepaper on Central University--Daya Sagar

Govt should not become party to any regional competition 

Daya Sagar

(Daya Sagar is social activist he can be reached at  dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk )

http://www.alookthroughthemist.blogspot.com/

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. 

 (Daya Sagar is social activist he can be reached at  dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk )

5th Working group report has in a way demonstrated that regional bias exists-Daya Sagar

A Look Through the Mist
5th Working group report has in a way demonstrated that regional bias exists
*Daya Sagar

(*Daya Sagar is a senior  coloumnist on Jammu &Kashmir Affairs, dayasagr45@yahoo.com )

http://www.alookthroughthemist.blogspot.com/



Report of  the Working  Group headed by Retd Justice S Saghir Ahmad (constituted by Indian
Prime Minister in May 2006 ) that was presented to JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah  at Jammu on 23rd December last year demonstrated the confusions that Justice Saghir Ahmed carried. 


Ofcourse  the WG report does not have much useful text on the subjects that related to Centre State relations .



Kashmiri over ground separatists did not participate in any of the working group meeting as well as
three Round Table Conferences chaired by Prime Minister. Chief Minister  Omar Abdullah presented the report to Prime Minister on 30 December. Omar Abdullah has still  suggested that Centre should hold dialogue with political parties on the issue of Autonomy and other issues. But  the report has failed to even settle the questions being raised by  mainstream groups like NC, PDP, BJP, JKNPP, BSP,etc. 


After having spent over two and half years the Chairman of the WG has in a way still  asked the J&K Chief Minister to study the prime referral  issues, work out road maps for the State Assembly and the Government of India  for consideration where ever deemed fit or practicable. In case the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to do this, then , what was the Working Group doing. This way the process of constituting committees and groups would go on  till when, no one can tell this day.. 5th Working group report has in a way demonstrated that regional bias exists.



The report is full of regional divides. A separate university has been recommended for Ladakh.
A Dogri TV Channel  on the lines of Kashir Channel in Kashmir Valley has been recommended for
Jammu region. Upgradation of Government College of Engineering Jammu to the level of IIT  has been recommended . Simultaneously upgradation of NIT  Srinagar to the level of IIT has been recommended.



Have not regional considerations influenced Saghir Ahmed decisions concerning J&K? If so, then from Saghir Ahmed report atleast  message should go to Delhi that J&K needs some architecture keeping in view distinct regional needs of J&K. Before 1947 also Maharaja had managed State on similar lines.


Any how the summary of the text of the report as was disclosed through sources did demonstrate the pressures the ruling coalition government in J&K  is facing from the 3 regions of J&K in addition to the separatists.



The report has  made just passing references to  Greater Autonomy of NC, Autonomy Resolution 2000 of J&K Assembly, Self Rule of PDP and  Article 370 .There is nothing new in the report about these subjects. Only thing that could emerge is that National Conference  and PDP could use some passing references  to keep the people of Kashmir Region in illusions as regards future of centre state  relations.


In view of the non serious approach of the GOI regarding the questions raised on the accession of J&K with India  or the  talks of some conditional accession, it has to be accepted that for a common man of J&K (particularly Kashmir  valley) there is some thing still pending as regards deciding the relations between Indian and Kashmir (J&K State of Hari Singh ).


So, it was only the reference to Autonomy /Self Rule / Article 370 that did matter as regards  Kashmir Valley to those in power seat. No objections have been made from the leaders from Kashmir Valley  to the text of the report concerning  subjects like Autonomy / Self Rule / Article 370. Just reference of these subjects  for consideration has been satisfying for the Valley leaders including NC and PDP (even Congress leaders of Valley ). 


Where as even  non conclusive and half references have attracted objections from the leadership belonging to Jammu Region, Ladakh region and Kashmiri migrant Hindu. This shows that the affairs of J&K have regional orientations and Saghir Ahmed working group report too could not escape the divisive shades.


Both NC and PDP well know that neither Self Rule nor greater autonomy would be endorsed by New Delhi . But to secure some footing against the separatists  and anti 1947 Accession ideologists they have to keep  accusing  New Delhi for not being FAIR towards "THE KASHMIR". Those who call J&K a matter of political dispute of extra territorial dimensions  and hold  separatist ideologies negating the 1947 accession of J&K  had no interest in working group agenda and the report. The references on Autonomy / Self Rule / Article 370 have been totally rejected by the leaders from Jammu and Ladakh regions.


Most of the other issues that the Working Group Report has referred  to ( even beyond the scope of terms of reference ) too have only regional implications . Rather the report as it pertains to  some important issues  has gone against  all the aspirations and demands of two regions of J&K (Jammu and Ladakh regions). So it were the people from Jammu and Ladakh Regions who had some thing to react. It also appeared from the report that the local and economic issues  demanding consideration in J&K  pertained to areas that fell outside Kashmir Valley (Jammu and Ladakh Regions). 


For Kashmir Valley the Kashmiri leaders had to discuss only center state relations and nothing else. Democratic uniformity subjects like  modifying the term of JK LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY from 6  years to 5 years,


(ii) issue of REPRESENTATION/RESERVATION FOR ST,


(iii) WOMEN IN ASSEMBLY,

(iv) increasing the number of seats in the Legislative  ASSEMBLY, 


(iv)conducting regular elections to democratic bodies including Panchayats and Municipalities where ever due immediately, 


(v) return of Kashmiri migrants/ the relief / rehabilitation packages/facilitating admission of children of returning migrants in educational and training institutions in Kashmir Valley / providing  security to such families,

(vi) payment of relief to Migrants from the militancy affected areas of Jammu Region,(vii) relief/
rehabilitation / local employment  of 1947 refugees from Pakistan who mostly  settled in Jammu
region , 


(viii) implementing the  Wadhwa Committee Report, 


(ix) registration  of properties and payment of claims there of (along with compensation for the delay over 6 decades)  of  POK DPs of 1947,  


(xi)compensation to border migrants displaced as a result of conflict at international border/LOC/ Kargil , 


(xii) alleged under representation in Legislature to Jammu Region  and demand for a fresh Delimitation  by amending  29th   Constitutional Amendment , 


(xiii ) undoing the unfair treatment meted to the backward and remote area people of J&K (Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur , Kupwara belts) who  are unfairly represented in the Legislative Assembly in defiance to  the Representation of the People Act 1957 that lays down the parameters for  fair Delimitation of Assembly Seats, 


(xvi) providing reservation in services / education by State Government  to the residents of areas adjoining international border like those near  LOC, 


(xvii) references to Gajendragadkar  and Sikri Commissions  and the like issues pertained to the people living in Jammu Region only. 


These questions have nearly got no favourable recommendations/ deliberations  in the report and have caused irritation to the people more  in the Jammu Region. So one could say that the demands that were more of socio economic nature pertained more to Jammu Region and have not found  acknowledging reference in the WG report. 


The demand for Union territory status  from Ladakh has been out rightly negated in the report. Not even recommended for some more deliberations. Report says that  the unity and integrity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir can not be compromised and the Union Territory Status for Ladakh is not recommended. 


This was also a regional demand and has not found favours even for consideration where as Autonomy has found. Why did not Saghir Ahmed suggest same approach for examining  the Ladakh Union Territory Demand , could be asked.
(*Daya Sagar is a senior  coloumnist on Jammu &Kashmir Affairs, dayasagr45@yahoo.com )