Prof. Nutan K. Resutra
“Sahebaan, Kadardaan, Meharbaan.
Khatam hotahai Elections ka Khel Aalishaan!
Jamure; uth aur sab ko karSalaam. Chal ab Maharashtra chalte hain! Wahan bhi elections announce hone waley hain”.
Jamura: “Magar Ustad, ab Jammu ka Kya hoga?”
Ustad: “Tum ne woh gana nahin suna: Arey paagal wahi hoga, jo manzoore Khudahoga.”
Jamura: “Aisa?”
Ustad: “Bilkul vaisa!”
Jamura: “Magar yeh situation tu Jammu ke logon ke saath na-insafi hai.”
Ustad: “Yeh na-insafi kab nahi thi Jamure?; Dogra rule kahatam hone se dekhte aa rahein hain. Kahin pe nigahen, kahin pe nishana: Kurbani dene ko Jammu aur khush karney ko woh. Magar tu aaj kaisi baate inkar raha hai. In se mujhey politics ki boo aa rahi hai. Khabardar: Jamurahai; Jamura ban kar reh. Politician mat ban! Haryana ka tamasha dekhliya. Chal ab niklein yahan se.”
And the duo took next flight to
present Madari ka Khel in Maharashtra!
Dear friends, please bear me that I have taken poetic liberty in airing few words.
Now everything is clear. Elections are over and National Conference is all set to form the government at the time I am writing this piece. Fair enough. As the party has crossed the magic number of 45 with joining of erstwhile rebel and now four winning Independent candidates, they are fully entitled to form government in true spirit of the Constitution given by “We the People…….” And everyone must accept the mandate of people.
We all are happy that Jammu and Kashmir has seen elections after a decade. People rejoice that now their elected representatives would try to solve their individual and public issues and would bring an end to the babu-raj where the common man was at the mercy of even the lowest of the official hierarchy. I once happened to talk to the district chief of a particular party, who lamented that even a Chief Education Officer was not ready to oblige them on petty issue of change of zone of a teacher. But now we all do have a ray of hope.
The new government will be formed and departments entrusted to the Ministers, who would try their best to make improvements in existing system and usher in new projects with new vibrant. The routine shall continue as it was a decade before. Good. Let God help us in making the State; Oops; Union Territory a better one! But the election results have raised some serious issues as well.
There is clear emergence of vote polarisation. Reason? We will not discuss here. While in Jammu Province BJP got lion’s share, so did the NC in Kashmir. The Congress seemed to be washed out in Jammu, it’s otherwise a stronghold. Not even the stalwarts could make a comeback.
But the non-existence of Congress is not the issue: the issue is whether to now? Where are we headed, and what are the writings on the wall.
I want to admit frankly before my highly intellectual readers that I am no Pandit or expert of politics; nor am I a part of the so- called think-tank that dwells upon the plans, policies and strategies of the party. I am just a common man. But it goes without saying that a common man who does not speak more, decides more. And as a common man I feel that now Jammu as a whole stands totally sidelined, secluded and irrelevant in the corridors of power. The media claim that the man from Bani or Chhamb, who recently joined the NC could be inducted into cabinet to give supposedly representation to Jammu Province also. Bravo!!
The message of elections is crystal clear. The Valley has outrightly rejected the Central policies and has given its own verdict: no more now. The greater number of Assembly seats even after delimitation process; a folly on the part of the Centre to please the Valley; has surely maintained their edge. And legally they are hundred percent right.
I have a different feeling; a different view.
I do not just think, but I strongly believe that now is the right time to start proceeding seriously towards the making of Jammu State!
And this is indeed the right time to do so. There is another aspect too to my preposition, which is quite simple.
The people of Ladakh, after having fought for umpteen years for the UT got it; but now they want to go back to the Statehood. They are being led by Sonam Wangchuk, an environmentalist and a Magsaysay Awardee. With all respect to Wangchuk, I want to recall my readers that Arvind Kejriwal had also been conferred with the same award and the history and behind-the-scene-players of this award are too dubious. Why is Wangchuk and others too desperate to go back to the old system? Let readers decide.
My solution to both issues is; once again introduce an Amendment in the Constitution whereby Statehood is conferred upon both Ladakh and Kashmir Province by making them one State which can be named The Kashmir Hill State.In the very same amendment, Jammu from Banihal including Chenab Valley up to Ravi be named The Jammu State!
This would solve many problems once for all. At least the elected representatives of the Bhartiya Janata Party can seriously strive towards this goal without fear or favour, taking up the cause vociferously before the Centre and the HighCommand.
But do the existing powers at the Centre have the ability; and more important; willingness to do so?
Well, it’s only they can tell!