By Sahil Mahajan
These are interesting times: train from Katra to Srinagar is chugging along since June 6 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off. It will start running from Jammu from September; Amarnath Yatra will see pilgrims on their way to cave shrine in security covered and escorted convoys. This is transformation in Jammu’s profile. The new educational and professional institutions, from IIM, IIT and Central University have enriched the profile of Jammu.
Indeed, it has.
But if there still is a feeling of neglect and that too when an elected government is dominating the political and economic horizon, it should lead to the question, why? This is a very critical issue: Are the people of Jammu an ever-grumbling lot, or do they refuse to recognize the dynamics of the democracy that the party or the parties with majority are mandated to rule, or, is Jammu having its own bias against others whom they did not elect.
A bit of all this is true. This also is true that there exists a perennial perception that Jammu has been squeezed further in the recent past as its voice is not being heard, and whenever it makes a plea that gets delayed response or not at all. It is a recipe of frustration , which cannot be removed anytime soon unless there is a sincere reality check
Before proceeding further , it needs to be understood that right from 1947, Jammu has been made part of the conflict that is now part of Jammu and Kashmir. While there is an element of truth that Pakistan-backed tribesmen invaded the princely state and Jammu became part of their target. It had to fight back the invaders . It did . It also saved the territory that the Indian Army was able to claim after the instrument of accession was signed The wars of 1965 and 1971 were fought on its borders, so it became a part of these wars. Kargil war, fought in Himalayas in Ladakh, also involved the region – the borders became hot, border residents had to migrate , and a new economic burden surfaced.
Kashmir conflict , owing to Pakistan sponsored terrorism with the support of some of the traditional anti-India and pro-Pakistan individuals and groups , erupted in late 1989 . It has been going on since , though brakes have been applied with strong counter-terrorism measures initiated and sustained by the Central Government after the constitutional changes were made in August 2019 . There were credible and visible changes . Jammu, however, could not become part of that, because it had already fought and defeated terrorism on its own. There was a sprinkling of terror attacks beginning 2022.
The migration of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley created another situation for the region. It is now more than 36-year old history of Jammu’s extraordinary hospitality toward the migrants . They were not simply hosted , Jammu shared with them their economic resources, jobs and cultural space . They are Indians, so it was duty of the people of Jammu to help fellow Indians. Kashmiri Pandits were hounded out of the Valley because they represented and stood for India.
Political leaders of all hues keep on mentioning this unique spirit of hospitality all the time , but that has not moved beyond the lip service . Jammu’s share in politics, economic opportunities and jobs should have been increased automatically . That did not happen . Kashmir suffered a lot during all these decades of terrorism , Jammu suffered equally
This , in itself should have been the reason for the Centre and the local governments to do the hand holding of Jammu to give it a sense of equal justice . The Central Government has undertaken some of the revolutionary projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Only the other day, Centre announced Rs. 10,637 crore road and tunnel projects . Jammu was looking at its share .It was told look at the proposed tunnel of Pir ki Gali . The tunnel on the Mughal road is a necessity. When constructed , it will improve connectivity between south Kashmir and Rajouri-Poonch districts. But the people had expected something regarding tunnels in Kishtwar and Doda .
Jammu has a feeling of being discriminated against. It is deepening, and this is not good for polity. The men who matter must ponder and include Jammu in the growth story of Jammu and Kashmir!