J&K has no appetite for fresh controversies
The treasury benches and the opposition are preparing for a mega clash in the upcoming budget session of J&K Assembly commencing from February 2, 2026 to prove their respective power. They are eyeing political triumph in the clashes. In fact the stage has already been set for the high voltage confrontation. Both sides are unaware, or pretend to be ignorant of the consequences that such an attitude entails.
This budget session is commencing against the backdrop of some of the controversies that were avoidable - the closure of a medical college in Jammu region, contest over the location of the proposed National Law University, fiery debate whether Jammu should stay with Kashmir as one unit or get separated to become a state, and the regional imbalance in the judicial services exam results.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Medical College was shut because of the reasons which should not have been there. The faith has to be treated in its purest form. There was a lot of room for dialogue to sort out the issue. A medical college has its own sanctity where students are taught to save lives of all faiths . The patients from all parts of Jammu and Kashmir travel to AIIMS, Delhi, and PGI Chandigarh because of their faith in the quality and specialization of doctors. They look at the expertise of the doctors, nothing beyond that.
At this time the bitter reality is that the medical college has been shut. Now, the wait is on for the legal and legislative route before the college is re-opened. Another equally bitter reality is that the communal divisions have sharpened, and that will have its long-term consequences. At the end of the day, the Sangarsh Samiti that spearheaded agitation, Vaishno Devi medical college for Hindus, also agreed that the students of their choice will have to be in the merit list to stake their claim to seats in the medical college.
Another debate has started whether Jammu should be separated from Kashmir and be made a separate state. This is a unique case – the premise is simple – break the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir into two , upgrade one set of geography to the statehood, while leaving Kashmir as a UT of particular geography for a particular demography. This issue is not as simple as it is being made out to be. It is a multi-dimensional subject.
The genesis of this demand should be understood. The regions and sub regions want fair share in representation in decision making. The policy makers should not be guided by the parochialism and particular region-centric approach.
Such voices are being dubbed as “communal”. The thesis is that a particular region is uncomfortable with the Valley, because the valley is Muslim-majority. It is not that. The region’s plains that hosted hundreds and thousands of Kashmiris – Hindus and Muslims, and refused to stir the communal cauldron despite severe provocations, can be anything but communal. There is a point which should be recalled: all those who felt unsafe in the Valley during peak of militancy, sought safety and shelter in Jammu city. Now when some of them are calling for the separation of the region from the Valley, there must be some underlying reasons, which demand understanding. The leadership of both the regions is capable enough to handle the issues without disturbing the existing map.
The truth of the past cannot be avoided. Jammu, before and after 1947, has seen Kashmir through different prism. The political dynamics of the Valley have always been different from that of Jammu. There are certain things that Jammu took for granted in the belief and to a large extent in reality too, that it has anchored the Valley in difficult times.
Kashmir, as Durbar Move, has proven again, is a major contributor to winter economy of Jammu, and the flow of Kashmiris during winter adds to the conversational dynamics. Jammu’s education system also benefited when students from the Valley, because of the situation in their home towns, studied in Jammu schools. Kashmiri students invested in their faith in Jammu. These are recorded facts in the history.
The call of the times is to reach out to each other. The fragmented thinking leads to fragmentation on the ground and then it becomes a process in perpetuity.
Omar Abdullah has emerged as a mature leader. Retaining Jammu in J&K is not a geographical necessity for Kashmir, it is strategically very crucial for the Valley and its leadership. He knows that despite his vast mandate from the Valley, he cannot run affairs without Jammu being in his government’s scheme of things. He took three ministers from Jammu in his six-member ministry, including himself. Omar as Chief Minister and senior leader of the oldest party of Kashmir, understands that national interest lies in unity not fragmentation.
BJP, the dominant political party of Jammu region, has stated it very categorically that it is not for division of J&K. The responsible leaders have called for J&K as one unit but not decried the demand itself.
The party, miffed with itself for not having a single seat in the Assembly from Kashmir, should accept the reality as it is. As opposition party, it has all the right to criticise the Government, but it also has the responsibility to live up to its word of keeping the regions and communities together. This will not happen in vacuum. It has to work hard and follow the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “ Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, sab ka vishwas and sab ka prayas.” They are supposed to give meaning to these mantras and ponder that whether their coloured prism led to its zero-seat scenario in the Valley.
The budget session is a real challenge and opportunity, for both. National Conference, the ruling party, has to act in a manner that all trust its role in the government. There is need to talk to one and all.
J&K needs deft handling particularly at this point in time when some forces from within and outside are working to destabilize the system. The past holds mirror showing how missed opportunities resulted in near-catastrophic situations.
