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Tuesday, Apr 06, 2004

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As polls near Jammu clamours for attention

JAMMU, APRIL 5. With the Parliamentary elections round the corner, voices for more resources or even a separate statehood for Jammu are becoming louder as people of this winter capital feel that all economic benefits and job opportunities flow to Kashmir.

The feeling of disenchantment has become more pronounced with elections nearing and small time organisations like Jammu State Morcha (JSM) and others holding roadside meetings in support of their demand. The people of this `city of temples' claim that centre has ``Kashmir centric'' policies and that their demands and interests have been overlooked.

``The interests and concerns of Jammu have always been ignored. The reason for this is the policy that favours Kashmir and neglects Jammu,'' feels Anjali Malhotra, a senior citizen who was born and brought up here.

People here feel that Jammu has to suffer on two aspects -- the tourism, including the rush for Mata Vaishno Devi, sees a serious dip if there is an incident in Kashmir and secondly the government continues with its special packages which are Kashmir centric in nature.

``Jammu has never sheltered or sympathised with militancy or gun culture. This has been a peaceful region all through,'' says Abhinav Rai, a sociology graduate.

The business prospects in Jammu have to bear the brunt as and when normalcy gets disrupted in the valley. Santosh Khosla, a businessman feels, ``tourism graph in Jammu registers a steep fall whenever guns scream in Kashmir. This coupled with the lack of investor friendly climate yields low earnings for Jammuites.''

``The business community in Jammu tries to observe strikes and bandhs on working days and we avoid closing business centres and shops on Sundays or public holidays. That way we try to minimise the losses. But, the dark shadow that militancy-infested Kashmir casts over our tourism industry is beyond our control,'' he says.

Amidst this tough talking, some moderate voices, though few in number, can also be heard. A senior IAS officer Ram Nayak Singh says the state was one and shall remain one.

The political noise is also against any such proposal. ``Diversity, be it cultural or religious, is our asset and it must be preserved. If we accede to the demand of separatism then we are playing into the hands of those who want to dismember the Indian federation,'' says M. Y. Tarigami, CPM leader and an important member of coalition government in state.

The state assembly has adopted a resolution moved by Tarigami recently whereby the MLAs have voted that the state could remain one. Tarigami, however, says he was aware about the feelings of discrimination against Jammu. ``I have moved a proposal in the Assembly for maximum autonomy for the Jammu region while staying within the framework of state autonomy. Lets work towards achieving greater say for the people while staying within the framework of one state,'' he says.

``We are aware that Jammuites nurture a feeling of injustice and discrimination meted out by the Kashmiri leadership. Such grievances must be addressed and we must seek a way to unify and not further mutilate the country,'' Tarigami adds.

Other political parties including National Conference and ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) also oppose any division of the state on regional lines while the mainstream national parties like the Congress and the BJP have preferred to maintain a taciturn policy towards the issue.

The BJP though has provided a covert support to the Jammu State Morcha as the party had virtually no political stakes in the Kashmir valley.

The coming elections would only be yet another indicator as to how much support was there for a separate Jammu state. JSM, which had one only one seat in last Assembly elections, has decided to support the BJP candidates.

-- PTI

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As polls near Jammu clamours for attention