Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 11: Jammu Intellectual Forum, All India Backward Classes Union and Migrants Cell of JKPCC met the visiting high level delegation of Congress party led by former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh here last evening and projected various issues.
A 14-member Intellectuals Forum delegation demanded Autonomous Regional Councils for all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir to put an end to perpetual regional discrimination against Jammu. The Forum favoured autonomous type of constitutional set up for Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions during its 40-minute meeting with Dr Manmohan Singh heading Congress Policy and Planning Group.
Headed by K B Jandial (IAS Retd), former member of J&K PSC, it comprised retired civil servants, academicians, ex- servicemen, businessmen, media persons and social activists representing cross section of Jammu society.
Expressing deep concern over discrimination to Jammu by successive Governments, Jandial asked Congress party to initiate a process for consultations with other parties and evolve a constitutional arrangement of Autonomous Regional Councils for each region that will leave no scope of discrimination. He warned that Jammu’s anger on discrimination has reached to a saturation point and if not addressed urgently it would lead to disastrous consequences.
Giving data of five years plans from 1992 to 2007, he said Jammu despite having more than 10,000 sq km area, got Rs 300 cr fewer funds than Kashmir excluding Ladakh. Sector-wise Rs 916 cr were spent during these 15 years in Kashmir against Rs 700 cr in Jammu. On the other hand Jammu contributes more in revenue than Kashmir.
The Forum expressed concern over the declining share of Jammu region in services and said that at present people have lost faith in recruitment agencies because of perceived discrimination against Jammu and a demand for separate Public Service Commission for Jammu is gaining support. The concept of Regional Council with separate service cadre can take care of the issue of fair recruitment.
Senior Advocate and activist, HC Jalmeria regretted that one reason for discrimination against Jammu was that no Govt followed a reasonable and truthful criterion for major decisions and mostly motivated by other Considerations. He quoted decision to create four districts in Kashmir to match the number of new districts for Jammu and in the process a tehsil was made the district. Why?
Political disempowerment of Jammu was another issue that remained in focus in the discussion and it was explained that by imposing constitutional ban on delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies till 2026 Kashmir dominated political set up has enslaved Jammu’s political power. Former IFS officer and activist Mukherjeet Sharma explained in detail the constitutional fraud committed on Jammu on issue of delimitation in J&K and recalled that serious effort was made during Azad’s rule to undo this injustice but could not get enough support in the Assembly.
Former Information Commissioner and former HOD of Law Deptt, Jammu University, Prof SK Sharma explained the constitutional importance of Article 370 and Article 35A in legal perspective and opined that these provisions are good for the State. He, however, stressed the need for evolving domicile certificate to address the problem of non-state-subjects.
The Forum, however, apprised the Congress panel that popular sentiments in Jammu are against Article 35A and must go as the people consider it as another barrier in the process of J&K’s full integration of with India.
Former President of Chamber of Commerce and activist, Y V Sharma summed up the discussions and expressed the hope that this celebrated panel of Congress party would give urgent attention to Jammu’s grievances while formulating its policy on J&K and do justice with the people of this region. He said that equitable distribution of resources and development of all regions must be ensured and meet the aspirations of people.
The delegation included SC Sharma IFS (Retd), Dr. Yudhvir Gupta, Col.( Retd) Shiv Choudhary, S Narinder Singh, Sohail Kazmi, Dr. Yogeshwar Gupta, Vijay Sharma, Ravi Braroo.
A deputation of All India Backward Classes Union lead by Prof Kali Dass met the Central delegation led by Dr Manmohan Singh and apprised them the sufferings of the state OBCs. They raised the issue of non-implementation of Mandal Report in J&K State. They said eight MLCs who are nominated by State Governor under Art. 50(6) of State Constitution 3 OBC MLCs should be there and 5 others must be non-political personalities.
They appointed out that 2 % reservation to the OSCs; population of which is above 50% of the state population is a mockery; Centre has enhanced creamy layer to 8 lakhs but in J&K State 4.5 lakhs limit is continuing since 2008.
Under 2005 Reservation Act, on page 24 section 24 renewal of OSC certificate is not required but authorities continued this process for a fresh OSC certificate. 20% RBA reservation could have been converted into horizontal reservation under Para 95 of Apex Court Judgment on Mandal Report but the deliberate act of Congress put the matter into shambles.
Others who accompanied the deputation were, Rajinder Singh, Shashi Verma, Balwant Kataria, Ramesh Kumar (Billa), Parshotam Kumar, Suresh Dogra (Advocate), Abdul Majid and Sambodh Sanjyal.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee Migrant Cell led by B L Raina general secretary met the visiting delegation and explained the plight of Kashmir migrants. Raina projected various other issues of the migrants residing in various camps in Jammu and other locations.
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