Adv Sanjay Raina
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed unprecedented violence for more than last three decades unleashed by Pak sponsored proxies and terror outfits aided and supported by Pak Army and ISI. But on August 5, 2019 the Articles 370 and 35-A were repealed and erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union territories viz UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh. Since creation of UT of Jammu and Kashmir Both center and UT administration are trying to put J&K back on the path of peace and progress and to a certain extent they are successful in ushering new era of Peace and development in the region.
Center Govt as per it’s commitment intends to bring electoral reforms in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir so that every segment of the society finds representation at political and social level. In pursuit of peace and development, Govt of India also initiated the process of delimitation of the constituencies in UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Few days back, the draft proposal of delimitation commission was put shared with associated members of commission, which is presently trending in public domain as well as on social media. After reading and analysing the proposed draft, it was found that the so called delimitation proposal is fraught with internal contradictions and if implemented in letter & spirit would prove disastrous for region and country. Policymakers at Delhi have little understanding and vision for UT of Jammu and Kashmir and are shooting in darkness, helter-skelter without hitting the target. Being a local and having understanding of area, topography, demography and above all mindset of local populace of the majority community and predicament of minorities on their survival in the existing circumstances, I would like to suggest following points needs for consideration before finalizing delimitation report.
If Rajouri-Anantnag Parliamentary constituency is created as per the proposed draft, it clearly transpires that center is buckling under Kashmir centric political parties for clubbing twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch with vale of Kashmir to materialise vision of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah which he contemplated as greater Kashmir by merging all Muslim majority areas of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir with Valley. The irony of the times is that Nationalist Govt at center is purposing such absurd idea keeping in mind that by doing this center govt will be able to control valley with help of people of Peer Panchal and also neutralize the negative elements in valley without understanding the physiche of the people of the region. If we unfold the events of last fifteen years there was a demand from twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch to merge them with Kashmir province. simply on the basis of their religious affinity, now the question is that whether the central government understands this sinister design or facilitating the same on the advice of some black sheep who are hell bent to disturb twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch which are part and parcel of Jammu region since time immemorial and people in the region enjoyed peaceful co-existence before negative influences started percolating from valley in the region.
This proposal of delimitation commission also reminds us of Dixon plan of late fifties wherein, it was proposed that Chenab river is a boundary between India and Pakistan and all the Muslim majority areas including valley shall go to Pakistan. This proposal of delimitation commission to carve out new Parliamentary constituency and giving open access to valley based politicians to exploit people of Peer Panchal region on the basis of religion and muslim brotherhood can prove counter-productive and exercise in futile. Allowing Kashmir based political spectrum and clergy to influence people of Rajouri and Poonch for secessionist ideology and movement thus extending the territorial limits of vale of kashmir to this nearly peaceful region instead of arresting the secessionist movement sponsored by Pakistan and it’s agency ISI within four walls of valley and insulating Jammu province in toto.
Presently Jammu Poonch constituency is Hindu majority and minorities of twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch feel secure and confident that atleast parliament member of this constituency looks after their interest and raise issues pertaining to them in the parliament of India. Now the question is if new Parliamentary constituency is carved out and named as Rajouri-Anantnag PC, with Muslim majority region a Muslim will be elected as MP then who would represent the minorities? Should nationalist govt at center sacrifice minorities as scape-goat for so called national interest? The underneath physic of all Muslim denominations is one and the same. Govt of India must understand this basic instinct of Muslim brotherhood and think hundred times before carving new PC constituency as it is fraught with very dangerous consequences.
If new Parliamentary constituency as proposed by delimitation commission in a draft put forth in a public domain is implemented in letter and Spirit shall definitely boost migration of Hindu minorities in search of green pastures for their survival elsewhere in India. With the creation of UT Hindu minorities just heaved a sigh of relief and felt bit secured and stable but with this new proposal of delimitation commission minorities will certainly become nonentities in the region. Uncertainty has started looming in the minds and hearts of the Hindu minorities and has become skeptical about their generations future. I have expressed my views what I could gather from the ground and my experience of last thirty years of public life. Over the years the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir went through ups and downs, trouble and turmoil, mass exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from valley, violence of unparallel magnitude and mayhems, Govt of India must be very careful and cautious before initiating delimitation process and carving out new constituencies so that people get succor rather put to harassment, resentment and leaving their homes and hearths for peaceful and secure future somewhere else in the country.