A lot is being said about the development and opportunities that need to be grabbed in 2025 , but Jammu’s priorities don’t figure as much as they should. Now Jammu has its own voice, which it mandated in the Assembly elections and before that in Lok Sabha polls through its vote. It is predominantly the mandate for BJP, and it is for the lawmakers so elected from here to represent Jammu’s case and list its priorities.
The first task before the BJP leadership is to identify all issues confronting the region and seek region-specific solutions . This time party’s responsibility to understand and flag issues is more than it was in 2014 when it had won a majority of Assembly seats and both the Lok Sabha seats as the political landscape is vastly different; the party had aligned with PDP to rule in coalition . The BJP had its big share in the coalition government and could maneuver things in the corridors of power . Today the scene is different – it is cast in the role of opposition after the Assembly elections with 29 seats in its kitty, while NC that got an overwhelming mandate from the Kashmir Valley is the ruling party . They are ideologically and politically poles apart.
Practically speaking , Jammu has a number of issues which got piled over one another in the past six and a half years when its political voice was limited to Parliament, as the Assembly stood dissolved since November 2018 . The MLAs elected in 2014 lost their position and power . It should be admitted that same was the fate of the then MLAs in Kashmir , but they continued to raise their issues . The Centre, before and after the abrogation of Article 370, paid greater attention to the Valley . In fact, the whole attention was focused on the behaviour of the Valley , and that was need of the hour too as any untoward incident there could have cast shadows on Centre’s decision to remove Article 370 . Jammu also accepted that position as by its organic nature and endless love for the Indian nationalism , supported Delhi’s moves . It did not flag its issues in the overarching national interest.
Now when the abrogation of Article 370 has been accepted as an all-time reality , Jammu has the right to list its priorities and seek attention toward that. A mechanism is also in place- it has elected MLAs mandated by the people to raise their issues and seek redressal. This is expectation of the people as they are also looking for their space to gain their importance in the UT.
First thing first , Jammu is nurturing a feeling, which it is saying both loudly and whispers that the development taking place in the UT of J&K is keeping Jammu out of its benefits . The business community is overtly worried about its future prospects as the developments like Expressway and rail link to the Valley skip Jammu. From a destination for pilgrims of Vaishno Devi shrine , the number of which staggers around 10 million per year , it was reduced to a transit point . Now that transit point is also melting into a mini stop . Kashmir-bound tourists, who would often stay in Jammu for couple of days or at least overnight , will now be going straight from other parts of the country to Valley . With that, it is feared that economy will nose dive. The prognosis is economic stagnation will worsen. This will affect transport, hospitality sectors and also small-time eateries. That is that the whole canvas of the economy would be affected.
All should put their heads together to bring out a list , in which all the issues should be placed priority -wise , and if possible a time frame should also be worked out This has to be a collective effort . Without stable economy, the political stability too would get affected. Jammu cannot afford that . There are issues that can be resolved at the local level and there are many other issues which the Centre alone can address. In both the cases, it is the BJP has to lead.