Published On:Tuesday, 21 October 2014
‘Conspiracy to change demography’
Kashmir faces discrimination
Srinagar: Kashmir valley has once again been discriminated by the present government as it has got a less share of administrative units compared to Jammu region, with separatists sensing it a “deep conspiracy” to shift the political power towards Jammu province.
The cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in its recent decision gave 109 administrative units to Jammu while Kashmir valley has been given only 92 units. Political experts show their surprise over the way these units are created.
“Creation of these administrative units is a deep ploy to clear the roads in the formation of new constituencies so that the ratio of assembly and parliament seats between Jammu province and Kashmir valley is balanced,” said a noted political analyst pleading anonymity. He said there is a huge difference of some 17 administrative units which will have an effective role in the future regarding the creation of new assembly segments.
Kashmir valley, as per the 2011 census, has more population than Jammu region. Presently, Kashmir valley has 46 assembly seats while Jammu has 37 assembly seats and Ladakh region has 4 seats. The Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the state.
Senior separatist leader and chairman Huriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said some agencies are working hard and have been tasked to change the Muslim character of this state. “The creation of administrative units in which Jammu province, which is less populated than Kashmir valley, is just a beginning of that conspiracy. We need to be very cautious about these policies which are aimed to suppress our political and regional voice. We have already taken serious notice of the issue,” Geelani said.
Another Huriyat leader and chairman National Front Nayeem Ahmad Khan also termed this exercise a conspiracy aimed at to weaken the Muslim majority character of this state. “Omar Abdullah and his other men are used as the tools to destroy the demography of this state. First it was his Grandfather and now he (Omar) is busy in surrendering whatever little is left to the Muslims of Kashmir,” Khan said
He said government of India wants the political power be shifted to Jammu and this can only be done once both Kashmir and Jammu have equal representation. “They will use all means to weaken the Muslim population of Kashmir,” Khan said.
Common people are also of the same opinion. Many believe the formation of new assembly segments will also depend on the administrative units. “When you have more administrative units in one region it will obviously help that area to get more constituencies. These administrative units will serve long term goals to the people who are hell-bent to change our Muslim majority status,” said Shafat Ahmed, a student.
According to the recent cabinet decision, Jammu has got 27 Tehsils 48 Nayabats, 29 CD blocks and 5 sub-divisions while Kashmir valley has been massively discriminated as it has got 22 Tehsils, 41 Nayabats, 26 CD blocks and 3 sub-divisions. People have already started protests against these administrative units in various parts of South Kashmir.
Not only this, Jammu city, which is the winter capital of the state, has got two sub-divisions and six Nayabats while Srinagar has been given one CD block and six Nayabats, which makes it ample clear that Jammu gets priority over Srinagar in all aspects.
Srinagar: Kashmir valley has once again been discriminated by the present government as it has got a less share of administrative units compared to Jammu region, with separatists sensing it a “deep conspiracy” to shift the political power towards Jammu province.
The cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in its recent decision gave 109 administrative units to Jammu while Kashmir valley has been given only 92 units. Political experts show their surprise over the way these units are created.
“Creation of these administrative units is a deep ploy to clear the roads in the formation of new constituencies so that the ratio of assembly and parliament seats between Jammu province and Kashmir valley is balanced,” said a noted political analyst pleading anonymity. He said there is a huge difference of some 17 administrative units which will have an effective role in the future regarding the creation of new assembly segments.
Kashmir valley, as per the 2011 census, has more population than Jammu region. Presently, Kashmir valley has 46 assembly seats while Jammu has 37 assembly seats and Ladakh region has 4 seats. The Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the state.
Senior separatist leader and chairman Huriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said some agencies are working hard and have been tasked to change the Muslim character of this state. “The creation of administrative units in which Jammu province, which is less populated than Kashmir valley, is just a beginning of that conspiracy. We need to be very cautious about these policies which are aimed to suppress our political and regional voice. We have already taken serious notice of the issue,” Geelani said.
Another Huriyat leader and chairman National Front Nayeem Ahmad Khan also termed this exercise a conspiracy aimed at to weaken the Muslim majority character of this state. “Omar Abdullah and his other men are used as the tools to destroy the demography of this state. First it was his Grandfather and now he (Omar) is busy in surrendering whatever little is left to the Muslims of Kashmir,” Khan said
He said government of India wants the political power be shifted to Jammu and this can only be done once both Kashmir and Jammu have equal representation. “They will use all means to weaken the Muslim population of Kashmir,” Khan said.
Common people are also of the same opinion. Many believe the formation of new assembly segments will also depend on the administrative units. “When you have more administrative units in one region it will obviously help that area to get more constituencies. These administrative units will serve long term goals to the people who are hell-bent to change our Muslim majority status,” said Shafat Ahmed, a student.
According to the recent cabinet decision, Jammu has got 27 Tehsils 48 Nayabats, 29 CD blocks and 5 sub-divisions while Kashmir valley has been massively discriminated as it has got 22 Tehsils, 41 Nayabats, 26 CD blocks and 3 sub-divisions. People have already started protests against these administrative units in various parts of South Kashmir.
Not only this, Jammu city, which is the winter capital of the state, has got two sub-divisions and six Nayabats while Srinagar has been given one CD block and six Nayabats, which makes it ample clear that Jammu gets priority over Srinagar in all aspects.
