The Centre's campaign that begins in J&K Union Territory, by the first batch of Ministers in some districts of Jammu province, may be viewed as government's effort to pacify the simmering anger among the people of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir but it would at least expedite the developmental initiatives in the newly created UT.
Deputing three dozen union ministers five months after the drastic changes in the status of Jammu and Kashmir, slowly but certainly the Centre seems to be trying hard to restore normalcy in the Valley. Stirred by a little nudge from the Supreme Court, the government has already begun on test basis restoring internet in designated hubs in the Valley before it can be restored fully or partially in the establishments and institutions having direct link to the lives of common citizen.
Security concerns will of course remain paramount in fully restoring the new-age tools of communication, through apps like WhatsApp, facilitate subversive elements as much as they also help the security apparatus in its diametrically opposite operations. It is better to be cautious in security matters than to rush headlong into a pre-August normalcy only to rue it later. For the jihadi elements have neither had a change of heart nor have they disappeared altogether.
Intelligence and security agencies feel that the subversive element is waiting for an opportunity to strike thus the authorities cannot lower their guard and risk loss of innocent lives. In the backdrop of this scenario, Government has decided to directly reach out to the people and explain the recent changes in the status of J and K and its bifurcation into two separate Union Territories.
Ministers are expected to interact with various sections of the people, reaching out to most of the districts in the Union Territory. While explaining the reasons for the change in the status of the State into two UTs, and highlighting the development works undertaken in various parts of the State, they would also get feedback from the people. What however struck as rather odd, though quite understandable, was that of the 59 places earmarked for ministerial visits as many as 51 are in Jammu while only eight are in Kashmir.
Quite clearly, the authorities fear that the popular reception to the ministerial outreach might not be enthusiastic in Kashmir valley. This is not at all surprising. While it is yet to be seen how far this exercise will achieve its objective, yet the J&K is going to be beneficial by the visits of influx of such a large number of minister as they would bring something good for the people and projects.
