MLA Udhampur sounds the bugle for a separate Jammu state

Rejects Autonomy, Self-rule, Azadi demands

Jammu Tawi, Sept 03: Former Minister and MLA Udhampur, Mr. Pawan Gupta on Saturday gave a clarion call to the people of Jammu province to up –rise for asserting their rights for delinking the pestering sore of Kashmir valley from the healthy body of Jammu province and Ladakh else citizens would be forced to launch an aggressive campaign to achieve their objective of separate statehood.

Addressing a press conference, Pawan Gupta said that Jammu province should be delinked from Kashmir valley for its emancipation from the seven decades of Kashmir dominated rule that demands extreme autonomy bordering separatism but at the same time denying the legitimate political and development rights of people of Jammu Region.

Gupta said we reject outright the demand of Kashmir leaders ranging from autonomy to self rule to Azadi to merger with Pakistan to free economic zone to religious state. On the occasion, Gupta resolved to accomplish two goals – separation from Kashmir and a separate statehood for Jammu. He said the people of Jammu region are masters of their own destiny and they will not accept any diktat either from Kashmir or New Delhi.

Quoting PDP MP's statement, Gupta said that Kashmir has been gripped by radicals and they have been fighting for a theocratic state and working for a Syria-like or Pakistan-like dispensation. “Conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a religious state is utterly unacceptable to the people of Jammu Province that may amount to second communal partition of India. “ There has been a calculated move to sever Jammu Kashmir out of India and destroy Jammu Province and local minorities. He said, ‘Let the turmoil in Kashmir valley be dealt by New Delhi within a small geographical region without sacrificing the interests of Jammu and Ladakh.'

Indicating a likely formation of Jammu Provincial Platform exclusively for Jammu for asserting the political, socio-economic and development rights of its people, Gupta held New Delhi responsible for the consistent pampering of Kashmir valley at the cost of nationalist people of Jammu. Replying to a question, Gupta said that he was in contact with political leaders who supported his idea of fighting Kashmir's hegemony with regional political movement and many known faces would join this movement in coming days.

Gupta said that the existing politico-constitutional and administrative structure is unitary and Kashmir-centric that exploits to the hilt on daily basis with the decisions divisive and unsettling in spirit against Jammu.

He criticized the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh who afforded two visits to Kashmir valley and his talking of solution of Kashmir through vaguely described “Kashmiriat, Jammooriyat and Insanyiat' while he did not bother to visit two major regions of Jammu and Ladakh to know about their respective issues and aspirations being biggest stakeholders in the state.

Gupta said that the policy of the Government of India towards Jammu and Kashmir is fatal to the vital interests of the nation. People of Jammu, refugees from PoJK and Pakistan and forceful displacement of Kashmir Pandits from Kashmir valley have been unnecessarily suffering for the docile and confused Kashmir Policy. New Delhi's policy on Kashmir is flawed and it subverts all cardinal principal of state, nation, sovereignty, nationalism and patriotism.

Accusing BJP for selling out the interest of Jammu, he said the party has no right claiming itself being the representative of people of Jammu province as they have miserably betrayed the trust of people.

He said that the time has come to awaken New Delhi towards the legitimate rights of the people of Jammu province and carving out a separate state within Jammu and Kashmir for this region's much needed development which has been denied to it due to appeasing Kashmir centric politics.

Professor Hari Om, Convener of Jammu for India, Panun Kashmir leaders Dr. Agnishekhar, Dr. Ajay Charangoo, Rajiv Chuni Chairman S.O.S., Rattan Singh Gill Advocate, Ajat Shatru Singh and other prominent citizens were also present.