TALES OF TRAVESTY
DR. JITENDRA SINGH
As the “Durbar” moves away from Jammu after its six months sojourn in winter capital, the ruling hierarchy headed by a ‘‘young and dynamic” Chief Minister has much to claim credit for. Those at the helm deserve to be complimented for having successfully refused to get shaken by what they describe as Jammu based ‘‘divisive’’ forces which threw up irritants by opposing the ruling party’s sympathies for Afzal Guru or drove to tears the leader of the ruling party who also happens to be chief minister when he was unable to contain his grief over the death of a Kashmiri youth even as slain CRPF jawans in the heart of Srinagar passed off unwept with a visibly reluctant homage from the CM and his aides.
As the ruling masters shift their capital away from the scorching summer heat of plains, they would have the satisfaction of looking back at their self-laudatory performance of 24 weeks marked by one achievement after the other, one success after the other. It was during the Durbar in Jammu that the ruling elite spent an entire session of Legislature singing the swan-song of Afzal Guru while the henchmen from Jammu danced to the tune. It was during the Durbar in Jammu when the ruling elite merrily went around cutting ceremonial ribbons while obeisance-makers from Jammu stood in loyal attendance. It was during the Durbar in Jammu when the ruling elite raised the clamour for revocation of AFSPA or return of militant youth from Pakistan undeterred by what they fancifully describe as Jammu’s ‘‘divisive’’ political groups.
The ruling coalition can boastfully take credit for having lived upto its commitment of not allowing what it describes as Jammu’s ‘‘communal”, “regional” voices to draw mileage if any. The ruling click can also pat itself for having sccessfully kept at bay Jammu’s youth activists and not allowing them to rake up any nuisance for the government. And finally, the ruling “think-thank” can compliment itself for utilising the Durbar time in Jammu to implement what it proudly describes as “historic” Sher-e-Kashmir Employment policy even as nearly seven lakh unemployed youth of the State choose to stay away from it. In a nutshell, it has been a highly rewarding six months of Durbar in Jammu and if the common man cannot appreciate the rewards, then it is his problem.
Meanwhile, as the Durbar moves away from Jammu, the common man here will miss the majestic traffic jams, the sight of red light topped VIP cars accompanied by decorative security cavalcades and the long queues of assorted people of all colours, complexions and clothes feudally waiting for an entry inside the Secretariate gate. At the same time, Umapathy, like a loyal state subject, fondly waits for the Durbar’s return after six months with a poetic plea “….Tu Mujh Se Khafa Hai To, Zamaane Ke Liye Aa.”
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