Vohra’s Jammu visit

Cross section demands re-organisations

KS Correspondent

JAMMU, On his visit to Jammu to know about the wishes and aspirations of the people with a view to find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, Mr Vohra met a number of delegations representing various shades of the society. Most of the delegations opened their hearts to Vohra to express the discrimination and neglect they have been subjected to by the Valley centric and Muslim dominated political establishment of the state. The common demand of these delegations was to reorganise the Jammu and Kashmir state and even those who did not directly support the demand asked Mr Vohra to evolve a mechanism in which their regional and ethnic political and economic aspirations are addressed. Most of the Kashmiri Pandit delegations underscored inevitability of creation of “Homeland” with Union Territory Status.

A delegation of Jammu and Kashmiri National Panthers Party (JKNPP) led by party chairman Prof. Bhim Singh met Vohra to present his party view point about the resolution of Kashmir imbroglio. The delegation decried the discrimination meted out to Jammu and Ladakh regions and demanded reorganisation of the state on the basis of cultural, linguistic and geographical identities to strengthen the national integration and restore peace and rule of law in the state.

The party submitted a detailed memorandum to Centre’s interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir which besides re-organisation of the state, demanded implementation of Wazir Commission Report, Constitution of Delimitation Commission to give them due share in Assembly, inclusion of Dogri in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution, Justice to Pak refugees, resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits and liberation of all areas under occupation of Pakistan and China.

Talking to media persons, Mr Bhim Singh said that Jammu and Ladakh regions have been subjected to slavery by Kashmir dominated political set up since independence and as such reorganisation of the state was inevitable. He once again demanded extension of formal invitation for talks to Hurriyat and described them “as much Indians as Bhim Singh”. He added that the Hurriyat leaders were the worst victims of violence. Prof. Bhim Singh, who had earlier refused to meet Vohra in absence of formal invitation, claimed that his party was extended formal invitation but Mr. NN Vohra denied of any such invitation.

Alleging continued political and economic neglect and discrimination at the hands of Kashmiri rulers, a delegation of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) led by its president Sri Kumar demanded trifurcation of the state. They demanded statehood to Jammu and Union Territory status for Ladakh to allow these grossly ignored and marginalized people to shape and control their political and economic future under the Indian Constitution. JSM delegation lamented the policy pursued by Congress government since independence vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir which ignored multi dimensional dissimilarities between Kashmir and Jammu and remained valley centric. They also opposed the inclusion of Article 370 in Indian Constitution which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir and added that the article was used to perpetuate absolute powers wielded by Valley’s ruling elite. The delegation reiterated its opposition to separatist demands ranging from greater autonomy to independence.

Alleging immense political and economic losses suffered by Jammu and Ladakh divisions at the hands of Valley dominated state governments, the delegation said that reorganisation of the state will not only result in political and economic emancipation of marginalised sections but will confine area of strife. The delegation emphasised that in resolution of Kashmir problem, they will have only such solution acceptable which incorporates reorganisation of the state as per their demand and described the demand as a means to bring the state closer to the rest of India.

Talking to media persons, Sri Kumar described Hurriyat irrelevant and added that there was no need to involve Hurriyat conference in the dialogue process as they did not represent any larger section of the society.

Most of the delegations which met Centre’s pointman of 6th day of his interaction with the cross section of society demanded statehood for Jammu region and gave a detailed account of the neglect they are faced with because of the discriminative policies of the successive state government. The delegations of Jammu Mukti Morcha, Jammu Statehood Front, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh told Vohra about the neglect of Jammu region in political, economic and employment spheres and implored upon him for the need of statehood to Jammu to meet the aspirations of the people there.

Jammu Mukti Morcha delegation led by Prof. Virendra Gupta had a dig at secessionist forces and ruling elite for forcing migration of minorities including Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, Punjabis etc from Valley and expressed apprehensions about settlement of Muslims in Jammu to smother pro-India voices. The delegation said Mr. Vohra that Jammu constitutes 50% population of the state but has been allotted only 37 seats in Legislature Assembly. The Morcha leader demand Trifurcation of the state saying that these regions have ‘distinct cultural, geographical, historical and political identities’.

Echoing same feelings, the Jammu Statehood Front told Vohra about the discrimination Jammuites have been subjected to by the Kashmiri rulers and had a dig at Delhi government for pursuing appeasement policy. The delegation asked Vohra to delink Jammu and Ladakh from the Kashmir valley as these regions do not support any secessionism and have suffered at the hands of Kashmiri rulers.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad delegation led by the state President Ramakant Dubey had also same story to tell to Vohra. He gave a detailed account to Mr Vohra about the discrimination with Jammu region in case of Assembly seats, economic share, state employment etc. The delegation said that about 1.4 lakh unemployed youth were given state employment by the previous government but only 20,000 were absorbed from Jammu region. The delegation complained of Islamisation of the polity reflected in carving of Assembly seats on communal lines and even manipulation of census records to favour majority community, demography change, encroachment of Hindu Shrines etc.

The Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh delegation linked the demand of statehood to Jammu region to the discriminatory treatment meted out to Jammu region by the successive governments. The Sangh delegation termed the reorganisation demand to give Statehood to Jammu and Union Territory Status to Ladakh as integrationist movement devoid of secessionism and separatism. The delegation termed the inclusion of article 370 in Indian Constitution, separate constitution and flag for the state as historical blunders that served as breeding ground for secessionists. The Sangh delegation implored upon State and Central governments to have a dialogue with Kashmiri Pandits for their safe and secure rehabilitation is Kashmir valley.

Though Bhartiya Janata Party delegation did not make an open demand for statehood to Jammu but demanded a definite political instrument invested with legislative executive and financial powers for Jammu region. The other demands made by the BJP included abolition of Evacuee Property Act, greater power to army and security forces and strengthening of VDCs.

Talking to media persons after meeting Vohra, BJP state president Prof. Nirmal Singh had a dig at People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Hurriyat Conference for claiming themselves as representatives of the people. He said that PDP and Hurriyat Conference do not represent the legitimate aspirations of the people and, therefore, talking to them will lead no where. BJP president also lashed out at Prof. Bhim Singh for advocating for the involvement of Hurriyat Conference in the dialogue process and added that such approach of Bhim Singh has exposed him.

“So, you also support this homeland demand”. This statement of Centre’s pointman to a delegation of Kashmiri Pandit is indicative of the fact that most of the Pandit delegations that met Mr. N.N. Vohra have underscored the need for creation of “Homeland” with Union Territory status for permanent settlement of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir valley. Most of the Pandit delegations putforth the demand of “Homeland” vociferously before Sh. N.N. Vohra and refused to live in any defacto or dejure Muslim state. The creation of “Homeland” to the north and east of river Jhelum with Union Territory status was described as only means to reverse the exodus forced upon the nationalist and peaceful minuscule community by the Islamist fundamentalist forces from within and outside. The Pandit delegations also gave a detailed account to the Centre’s Interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir about their political isolation and economic persecution perpetuated upon them by the successive state governments. They implored upon Mr Vohra that if Central government was sincerely concerned with the welfare of the Pandit community then the government shall build their stakes in the state by providing employment opportunities of the community and address their other genuine concerns.

A delegation of All Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference (AKPSC) under leadership of its President Sh. ON Trisal met Mr Vohra and strongly built the case for creation of “Homeland”. The memorandum and the discussions with Mr Vohra focussed on the imperativeness of the homeland demand. “Kashmiri Hindus will neither accept a defacto or a dejure Muslim state. Rejection of coexistence by Kashmiri Muslims has thrown up a political imperative for us to pursue. The demand that Kashmiri Hindus be settled in Kashmir valley north and east of river Jhelum with a Union Territory states where there is free flow of Indian Constitution is basically a resolve to permanently reverse the genocide inflicted on Kashmiri Hindus and defeat the pan-Islamic designs as well as nefarious Dixon proposal All Kashmiri Hindus are wedded to pursue this political imperative”. This was the crux of the memorandum presented to Mr Vohra by the organisation.

Mr ON Trisal made it clear to Mr NN Vohra that their (Pandits) expulsion out of Kashmir valley was the result of “Muslim social milieu rejecting the coexistence as an ideological necessity to pursue its aspirations. “Religious cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus is not an aberration of the armed separatist campaign. Our experience clearly states that bereft of wide spread societal connivance the religious campaign would not have succeeded”, added Mr Trisal.

The delegation demanded a massive employment drive to the tune of 20,000 amongst the displaced Hindus to build their stakes in the state. They also requested Indian government to give up its present policy on return and not to pursue the return plan in symbolic terms but in its entirety. They demanded that the community shall be helped to live a better life in Jammu and other parts of the country till their return and rehabilitation in “Homeland”.

All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) delegation headed by Amar Nath Vaishnavi also met Mr NN Vohra and demanded creation of “Kashyap State” (homeland) with Union Territory status. The delegation also demanded their involvement in the search for solution to problem. The other demands included reservation in professional colleges, right to visit Sharda Peeth in PoK and creation of a Council for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

Echoing the demand of “Homeland”, All India Kashmiri Forum delegation linked the demand to the return of Pandits to the Valley. The Forum delegation led by its Chairman PL Dhar also demanded special recruitment drive for the community youth, better civic and medical facilities in the camps and release of HRA, CCA and promotional benefits in favour of displaced employees.

Rejecting return plans pursued by state government, the memorandum of the forum read that ‘Nadimarg massacre has once again underlined that ‘return policies’ pursued so far are not only wrong but sinister as well. Return of Kashmiri Hindus is linked to the resolve of the Government of India and the nation to reverse religious cleansing in Kashmir valley. Displacement of Kashmiri Hindus was not a local aberration. Nor is the return a trivial issue. Any attempt to delink return from the causes which brought about displacement will be self defeating”. The delegation demanded that “Kashmiri Hindus cannot go back to Valley without the emergence of a socio-political set up where social milieu is secular and Indian Constitutional process flows without restriction. The demand for Homeland north and east of river Jhelum should be seen in this context. We want to convey to you that we support such a demand as it provides us only hope to return.”

Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) also reiterated the demand for separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits and demand a chair on the negotiating table if Muslims were accommodated on it. After meeting Vohra along with other delegates of the organisation, PKM President Ashwani Chrungoo said that they demanded Homeland not only with territorial control but political control as well. He added that their return should not be symbolic but should be aimed at retaining in the Valley on a lasting basis so that no exodus takes place in future.

Demanding inclusion of Pandits in dialogue process if Muslims were involved in it, Mr Chrungoo said we have made it clear to Mr Vohra that if there is any internal or external pressure to make Kashmiri Muslims a party to any type of talks or negotiations with Pakistan, then Kashmiri Hindus should also be made party to the same as we are “natural and first party”.

Womens Wing of “All Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference” also met Mr NN Vohra under leadership of Ms Rajini Bhat and reiterated demand for “Homeland”.

Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, “Action Committee of Return of Migrants” and “Jammu Kashmir Vichar Much” also met Vohra.  Mr Vohra gave a patient hearing to all the delegations and his seriousness generated a hope that this time the aspirations of Pandits will get registered and reflected in any solution to Kashmir crisis.

Many other organisatiosn including Janata Dal United (JDU), Janata Dal Secular (JDS), Jammu Adikar Morcha, Akali Dal etc. met Mr Vohra. The common complaint of almost all the delegations and individuals was about the discrimination they have been subjected to and demand for inclusion of their aspirations in any solution aimed at solving Kashmir problem. The problems of PoK refugees, border migrants also figured prominantly during discussions with Vohra.

Mr N.N. Vohra had discussions with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former Chief Minister and patron of National  Conference Dr Farooq Abdullah and JK Chief Secretary S.S. Blouria before winding up his tour to Jammu.

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