5th Working group report in a way demonstrates regional bias

BY DAYA SAGAR
Report of  the Working  Group headed by Retd Justice S Saghir Ahmad ( constituted by Indian Prime Minister in May 2006 ) that was presented to JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah  at Jammu on 23 rd December last year demonstrated the confusions that Justice Saghir Ahmed carried. Ofcourse  the WG report does not have much useful text on the subjects that related to Centre State relations . Kashmiri over ground separatists did not participate in any of the working group meeting as well as three Round Table Conferences chaired by Prime Minister. Chief Minister  Omar Abdullah presented the report to Prime Minister on 30 December. Omar Abdullah has still  suggested that Centre should hold dialogue with political parties on the issue of Autonomy and other issues. But  the report has failed to even settle the questions being raised by  mainstream groups like NC, PDP, BJP, JKNPP, BSP, etc. After having spent over two and half years the Chairman of the WG has in a way still  asked the J&K Chief Minister to study the prime referral  issues, work out road maps for the State Assembly and the Government of India  for consideration where ever deemed fit or practicable. In case the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to do this, then , what was the Working Group doing. This way the process of constituting committees and groups would go on  till when, no one can tell this day.. 5th Working group report has in a way demonstrated that regional bias exists.
The report is full of regional divides. A separate university has been recommended for Ladakh. A Dogri TV Channel  on the lines of Kashir Channel in Kashmir Valley has been recommended for Jammu region. Upgradation of Government College of Engineering Jammu to the level of IIT  has been recommended . Simultaneously upgradation of NIT  Srinagar to the level of IIT has been recommended.
Have not regional considerations influenced Saghir Ahmed decisions concerning J&K? If so, then from Saghir Ahmed report atleast  message should go to Delhi that J&K needs some architecture keeping in view distinct regional needs of J&K. Before 1947 also Maharaja had managed State on similar lines.
Any how the summary of the text of the report as was disclosed through sources did demonstrate the pressures the ruling coalition government in J&K  is facing from the 3 regions of J&K in addition to the separatists.
The report has  made just passing references to  Greater Autonomy of NC, Autonomy Resolution 2000 of J&K Assembly, Self Rule of PDP and  Article 370 .There is nothing new in the report about these subjects. Only thing that could emerge is that National Conference  and PDP could use some passing references  to keep the people of Kashmir Region in illusions as regards future of centre state  relations .In view of the non serious approach of the GOI regarding the questions raised on the accession of J&K with India  or the  talks of some conditional accession, it has to be accepted that for a common man of J&K ( particularly Kashmir  valley ) there is some thing still pending as regards deciding the relations between Indian and Kashmir ( J&K State of Hari Singh ). So, it was only the reference to Autonomy / Self Rule / Article 370 that did matter as regards  Kashmir Valley to those in power seat. No objections have been made from the leaders from Kashmir Valley  to the text of the report concerning  subjects like Autonomy / Self Rule / Article 370 . Just reference of these subjects  for consideration has been satisfying for the Valley leaders including NC and PDP ( even Congress leaders of Valley ). Where as  even  non conclusive and half references have attracted objections from the leadership belonging to Jammu Region, Ladakh region and Kashmiri migrant Hindu. This shows that the affairs of J&K have regional orientations and Saghir Ahmed working group report too could not escape the divisive shades. Both NC and PDP well know that neither Self Rule nor greater autonomy would be endorsed by New Delhi . But to secure some footing against the separatists  and anti 1947 Accession ideologists they have to keep  accusing  New Delhi for not being FAIR towards “THE KASHMIR”. Those who call J&K a matter of political dispute of extra territorial dimensions  and hold  separatist ideologies negating the 1947 accession of J&K  had no interest in working group agenda and the report. The references on Autonomy / Self Rule / Article 370 have been totally rejected by the leaders from Jammu and Ladakh regions.
Most of the other issues that the Working Group Report has referred  to ( even beyond the scope of terms of reference ) too have only regional implications . Rather the report as it pertains to  some important issues  has gone against  all the aspirations and demands of two regions of J&K ( Jammu and Ladakh regions). So it were the people from Jammu and Ladakh Regions who had some thing to react. It also appeared from the report that the local and economic issues  demanding consideration in J&K  pertained to areas that fell outside Kashmir Valley ( Jammu and Ladakh Regions ). For Kashmir Valley the Kashmiri leaders had to discuss only center state relations and nothing else.
Democratic uniformity subjects like  modifying the term of JK LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY from 6  years to 5 years,(ii) issue of REPRESENTATION/RESERVATION FOR ST,(iii) WOMEN IN ASSEMBLY, (iv) increasing the number of seats in the Legislative ASSEMBLY, (iv)conducting regular elections to democratic bodies including Panchayats and Municipalities where ever due immediately, (v) return of Kashmiri migrants/ the relief / rehabilitation packages/facilitating admission of children of returning migrants in educational and training institutions in Kashmir Valley / providing  security to such families, (vi) payment of relief to Migrants from the militancy affected areas of Jammu Region,(vii) relief/ rehabilitation / local employment  of 1947 refugees from Pakistan who mostly  settled in Jammu region , (viii) implementing the Wadhwa Committee Report, (ix) registration  of properties and payment of claims there of ( along with compensation for the delay over 6 decades)  of POK DPs of 1947,  (xi)compensation to border migrants displaced as a result of conflict at international border/LOC/ Kargil , (xii) alleged under representation in Legislature to Jammu Region  and demand for a fresh Delimitation  by amending 29^th Constitutional Amendment ,  (xiii ) undoing the unfair treatment meted to the backward and remote area people of J&K ( Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur , Kupwara belts ) who  are unfairly represented in the Legislative Assembly in defiance to  the Representation of the People Act 1957 that lays down the parameters for  fair Delimitation of Assembly Seats, (xvi) providing reservation in services / education by State Government  to the residents of areas adjoining international border like those near  LOC, (xvii) references to Gajendragadkar  and Sikri Commissions  and the like issues pertained to the people living in Jammu Region only. These questions have nearly got no favourable recommendations/ deliberations  in the report and have caused irritation to the people more  in the Jammu Region. So one could say that the demands that were more of socio economic nature pertained more to Jammu Region and have not found  acknowledging reference in the WG report. The demand for  Union territory status  from Ladakh has been out rightly negated in the report. Not even recommended for some more deliberations. Report says that  the unity and integrity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir can not be compromised and the Union Territory Status for Ladakh is not recommended. This was also a regional demand and has not found favours even for consideration where as Autonomy has found. Why did not Saghir Ahmed suggest same approach for examining  the Ladakh Union Territory Demand , could be asked.

(*Daya Sagar is a senior  coloumnist on Jammu &Kashmir Affairs, dayasagr45 @yahoo.com )