Sir,
Yet another timely and wonderful political essay on the burning issues facing the State from K B Jandial (Jammu cries for “healing touch”, DE, May 18). His was a comprehensive write-up on the plight of Jammu and on the causes which have made the PDP unpopular in Kashmir and the BJP unpopular in Jammu. His observation on bandh in Jammu on the issue of AIIMS on the day the Civil Secretariat stopped functioning in the winter capital and shutdown in Srinagar on the issue of rehabilitation and other local issues on the day the Civil Secretariat started functioning in the summer capital is very significant and meaningful. Similarly, his comment that the Mufti Sayeed Government was focusing more on controversial political issues instead of governance-related issues is significant.
The author has, in addition, raised many pertinent questions about the intentions of PDP and BJP and vindicated those who had been accusing the Kashmiri leadership and its Jammu-based supporters of pursuing a policy of discrimination with the people of Jammu region. His suggestion that Jammu deserved AIIMS and artificial Tawi lake and the PDP-BJP coalition needed to take necessary steps to facilitate issuance of Dogra certificates and grant of citizenship rights to the refugees from West Pakistan was appropriate. This is the general view in Jammu. Then, his reflections on the condition of Jammu roads and on acute shortage of drinking water and scheduled and unscheduled power cuts are equally noteworthy. They deserve positive consideration and apprehension. The situation in Jammu is horrible by any yardstick.
However, unexpectedly, one important point which CM Mufti Sayeed had made during his press conference in Jammu on March 15 escaped the attention of discerning KB Jandial. The CM had made some important political statements and claimed that he saw an “opportunity” after the PDP and BJP formed coalition Government and that PM Narendra Modi must have a “bigger picture” and “bigger objective” when he endorsed the coalition of ideologically different political parties. It would have been better had the author also commented on these very significant political statements. It is hoped the author will pick up his erudite pen and come out with another piece to educate the public opinion through the esteemed Daily Excelsior about the significance and meaning of “opportunity” the Chief Minister referred to without explaining it, as also about his assertion that PM Modi must have a “bigger picture” and “bigger objective” and the Prime Minister “may have seen it on a bigger canvas”. It is imperative as these political statements have created some serious doubts in the minds of the nationalist constituency in the State.
Meanwhile, I also take the opportunity to congratulate you for your very bold and objective editorial, “Shelving lake project”. This editorial must move and awake the State Government.
Yours etc….
Akhil Mahajan
on e-mail
II
Sir,
Kudos to K B Jandial for the beautiful article.
The learned author has depicted the true aspirations of Jammuites in a frank and fair manner. But the lacuna in the article remains the same as always that Jammuites forget a large chunk of Jammu population when they express their doubts about Kashmiri leadership in respect of their mind set against Jammu aspirations. This unfortunate section of population which Jammu elite does not care except when they seek their votes in elections is the population of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC.As the statistical facts( (2001) tell SC’s alone are 16.84% ( (Excl.Poonch with 0.25%) in Jammu Province. Whereas their population District wise is Jammu (24.85 percent) Kathua (23.15 percent) Udhampur (19.11 percent ) Doda(9.09 percent), Rajouri (7.97 percent ) District. From this one can infer that every 6th human living in Jammu province belongs to a Scheduled caste. The BJP with 25 seats in Assembly and three in Parliament could never dream to get this number to come to power without support of this major chunk of S/C,S/T & OBC population. But the New Recruitment policy with out Reservation provisions in it could also not be framed without the active support of BJP.
Had Mr. Jandial deliberated on and decrided the new recruitment policy of the new PDP plus BJP Government where Reservation in services has been thrown to winds would have made a complete reading of the minds of Jammuites? As per Reservation Rules the reservation has to be there for all the post for which charges are to be borne by state exchequer. Over one lakh recruitments stand already made under Rehbar-e- Taleem and such like services in the different department without applying provision of Reservation Rules which is not a slip but a deliberate act of negligence, prejudice and bias. If a Jammu writer who has served the government in various capacities for decades can forget in his writing interests of SCs, STs and OBCs, it cannot be taken as a slip of pen.
Yours etc….
H R Phonsa
on e-mail
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel