Under the plea of security related concerns, the Government ordered appointment of 8992 Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kashmir zone as against 1457 in Jammu zone. This was disclosed by the Home Minister in reply to a question from an NC member. What was the criterion for making these appointments has remained unanswered. The Minister representing the Home Department did not elaborate on any aspect of the subject except doling out the number of SPOs appointed.
Appointment of 8992 SPOs in Kashmir zone against 1457 in Jammu zone computes to bare 14 per cent to Jammu and 86 per cent to Kashmir. Constitutionally and legally this lop sided distribution is unacceptable. What is the criterion for adopting this ratio in appointments? Every second week the Coalition Government says things have improved and normalcy is fast returning. The Government is spending lakhs on advertising in local vernacular papers that tourists should come and they are safe. If that is true then where is the need to enroll such a large number of SPOs?
The coalition Government must understand that the days of discriminating Jammu on whatever basis are over. It must understand that pushing Jammu to wall is not going to do any good to it and that there is a limit to propensity.
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