Negation of Jammu region is not new as it used to be ignored always by the Kashmir dominating governments as well as Centre irrespective of which political party was in power. Those who swear by cause of Jammu get lost in the political matrix the moment they come to power.
With announcement of invitation to fourteen leaders of eight political parties from Jammu Kashmir to interact with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at Delhi on June 24, a question that goes viral in Jammu is – who represents Jammu region in the talks? Numerical it is one – Prof Bhim Singh of JK National Panthers Party but practically it is none.
Out of these political parties, four regional parties namely National Conference, PDP, JK Peoples' Conference and JK Apni Party are exclusively Kashmir Centric and have major political stakes in Kashmir valley. Leaders from three state units of national parties – BJP, Congress and CPIM though claimed to be representing the people locally draw their political strength and instructions from their high command at New Delhi and for them, local aspirations and issues do not matter much in their national perspective and electoral interests.
Interestingly, two of the local unit of the national parties, Congress and CPIM have a glaring track-record of pro-Kashmir politics and never gave any importance to the political interests of Jammu region and Congress has the distinction for always having reaped political dividends from the Jammu region while acting otherwise.
The presence of three leaders from the BJP from Jammu does not have much significance as they will nod to whatever course their national leadership adopt the new political initiative on Jammu and Kashmir where the interests of the Jammu region may be taken for granted.
By other criteria, the invitation was extended to four former chief ministers and four former deputy chief ministers to attend a meeting on June 24th convened by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi to set the political process in motion in Jammu Kashmir. Though the Peoples' Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) stands ignored by the centre, yet the balance of invitees is tilted towards Kashmir valley as there is no regional party of political significance in the Jammu Region and BJP has suo-motto taken over the control of representing aspirations of the Jammu Region.
There are two factions of JK National Panthers Party and Prof Bhim Singh, a known flip-flopper from Jammu was expelled by the other faction.
Thus no genuine regional leader/party of Jammu invited to the PMs Talk! It will be a talk between Centre and Kashmir valley. Thus status quo on Jammu has been honestly maintained!
