Undermining Jammu, humiliating Hindus will prove to be Congress’ waterloo in J&K

JAMMU: The 2024 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir might have brought the Congress Party a few seats in the Kashmir Valley, but the debacle in the Jammu region in 2024 and successive routs in Lok Sabha elections have exposed a deeper malaise: the systemic neglect and underestimation of Jammu’s political significance by the Congress high command. Despite Jammu being the electoral backbone of the party for decades, it continues to be sidelined in favour of tokenism and appeasement politics, all in the name of showcasing ‘secular’ credentials at the cost of humiliating nationalistic Hindu cadre.

Historically, Jammu has remained a Congress constituency since the independence of the country – loyal, vibrant, and ideologically aligned with the party’s broader vision. Yet, instead of acknowledging this unflinching support, the Congress leadership has consistently overlooked Jammu’s leaders, choosing instead to promote individuals from the Kashmir Valley, often with questionable records. This favoritism is not just political negligence-it is a grave injustice that has alienated the party’s core support base in Jammu.
Even more troubling is the manner in which Congress has handled serious allegations against its Valley-based leadership. Several Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents from Kashmir have faced accusations, ranging from involvement in sex scandals to corruption. Some have even made statements that appeared to justify or defend Pakistan’s actions, especially in moments of heightened Indo-Pak tensions. Despite these controversial records, the Congress top brass-Nehru Gandhi family- has not only failed to reprimand such figures but has, in many cases, elevated them to more prestigious roles within the organization.
Contrast this with the treatment meted out to senior Congress leaders from Jammu. Often ignored or humiliated, these leaders have faced backlash for simply asserting their democratic rights or expressing opinions rooted in national interest. One cannot forget how a senior Vice President from Jammu-a Hindu-was unceremoniously sidelined for the mere suggestion that a Hindu from Jammu also deserved a shot at becoming the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state. His statement was neither provocative nor communal-it was a legitimate demand for inclusivity in leadership. Yet, his political career paid the price for voicing an inconvenient truth.
The problem lies not in electoral strategy, but in a deeply entrenched mindset that associates secularism with the appeasement of one community at the cost of the other. The Congress party’s brand of secularism has, over the years, evolved into a dangerously skewed framework where any assertion of Hindu identity or demand for equitable representation is treated with suspicion or outright hostility. This has led to a perception-rightly so-that the Congress leadership, especially the Nehru-Gandhi family, harbours a discomfort for Hindu faces occupying leadership roles in sensitive or top posts, especially in Jammu and Kashmir.
Remember, the Congress’s modest gains in the Kashmir Valley during the 2024 Assembly elections must also be seen in context. These gains were not the result of any ideological revival or mass support for the Congress. Rather, they came courtesy of its alliance with the National Conference, which capitalized on the anti-BJP sentiment prevalent in the Valley. The voters were more interested in defeating the BJP than supporting the Congress. The real beneficiary of this sentiment was the National Conference, and Congress was merely riding pillion.
The writing on the wall is clear: if the Congress hopes to reclaim its lost ground in Jammu and Kashmir, it must shed its biases and begin treating Jammu not as a subsidiary region but as a pivotal part of its political strategy. The leadership must wake up to the reality that secularism does not mean alienating any particular community.
The Nehru-Gandhi family must introspect. Is the Congress truly serving national interest by favouring tainted leaders from the Valley while silencing the loyal voices from Jammu? Why must a region that has always stood by the Congress be punished for its integrity, nationalism, and refusal to bend before separatist rhetoric?
Jammu deserves its due – not as a favour, but as a matter of democratic right. The Congress party must understand the sensitivities and political dynamics of Jammu and Kashmir, and acknowledge that national integration begins at home, by respecting its own grassroots leaders. It must abandon its outdated model of appeasement and adopt a more inclusive and accountable approach.
The time has come for the Congress to stop being a party that merely tolerates Jammu – and start becoming a party that truly represents it. (CONCLUDED)