Jammu, August 25: Jammuites have been complaining of Kashmir domination for more than six decades now and the sentiment has given rise to many agitations some of which culminated in regional polarization creating a sort of regional divide in the state.
The famous Praja Parishad Movement was also the outcome of this domination perceived by Jammuites seeking equal treatment in all spheres of life.
In more recent times the famous Amarnath land row saw this sentiment touching new heights with all sorts of people joining hands irrespective of the political affiliations to give vent to their feelings of discrimination even though the target was something else.
It is believed that Amarnath agitation sowed the seeds of permanent rift between the two regions even as earlier Jammu Mukti Morcha and later Jammu State Morcha was formed with this discrimination and domination by Kashmiri political class as the basis.
The current AIIMS row is another manifestation of the same suffocation of Jammuites that has been gradually taking a shape of yet another major agitation that might result in resurgence of the separate statehood demand by Jammuites.
Going by the chain of events it only reconfirms the belief among Jammuites that something somewhere is wrong in the state bureaucracy and political class that is resulting in stocking the fire of discrimination by Kashmiris thus furthering the regional divide in the state.
However what surprises one is the irritating contrast between the two political classes of Jammu and Kashmir with Kashmiri politicians and bureaucracy wasting no time to implement their own agenda on the whole state while the same class from Jammu always remains a mute spectator.
With BJP gaining the power for the first time in the state this sentiment was again roused with Jammuites hoping that now the so called discrimination would not be allowed in the new dispensation by Jammu based ministers having equal say in the power corridors.
But even as the days are passing the stark reality is coming to fore for the Jammuites that nothing is going to change for them with the new set of rulers also playing mute spectators and letting Kashmiris bulldoze everything with impunity depriving Jammuites even the basic share in the employment and developmental activities.
Had it not been so how can the government justify making Urdu as compulsory subject for Naib Tehsildar exams even as the ministers and MLAs from Jammu have suddenly gone on a mute mode.
Since it is a well known fact that majority of the Jammu students don’t opt for Urdu as optional subject and this move is not only most discriminatory but also shows clear Kashmir domination to deprive Jammu students from appearing in a crucial exam of Naib Tehildar.
The agitation by ABVP does not seem gaining momentum as yet as political differences are keeping the other opposition parties away least caring that this move once implemented fully can prove catastrophic for the Jammuites.
Similarly there are reports that Jammu and Kashmir bank has also appointed around 90 people on contractual basis for 89 days on different posts where Kashmiris have been posted in Jammu region thus depriving Jammu students of a fair chance of contractual employment.
It is time the Jammu leaders come out of their shell and fight for their rights at a time when the representation in the power corridors is equal and can block such discriminatory and dominating attempts.
Pushing Jammuites to edge is fraught with disastrous consequences which ultimately would lead to more hatred among the two regions and voices of separate statehood for Jammu.