Jammu: Having scrapped the contentious Article 370 and downgraded J&K state by dividing it into two Union territories, the Modi government is now planning to further erode Kashmir’s hegemony over the Jammu region by carving out a new administrative division from existing regions in the union territory.
Highly-placed sources in the J&K administration told ThePrint that consultations to create a new division comprising at least three districts from Jammu division and three from Kashmir — all part of or surrounding the Pir-Panjal region — are at a very advanced stage and a formal announcement may happen in late December or early next year.
“A decision has already been taken and only modalities are being worked out. It will provide fresh impetus to developmental activities in the hitherto neglected parts of Jammu division such as the Chenab Valley,” said a senior J&K government functionary.
“But, more importantly, it will further reduce Kashmir’s hegemony over the other regions, especially Jammu, since the new division will also change the demography of Kashmir.”
Sources also said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is already on-board with the plan, while the ruling BJP sees the move as a significant step to end Kashmir’s hold over Jammu.
The issue was also discussed at a high-level meeting between officers of J&K and senior functionaries of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Kashmiris were ruling the state only due to the fact that they had more seats in the Assembly and had more power than Jammu region. But, it was BJP’s commitment to end the discrimination of the other regions,” said a senior J&K BJP leader, who didn’t wish to be quoted on what he described as a sensitive matter.
In the undivided J&K state, Kashmir region had the lion’s share of 44 seats in the 87-member Assembly while Jammu had 37 seats. Ladakh sent four MLAs to the erstwhile House. According to the J-K Reorganisation Bill, 2019, passed in Parliament in August, the number of seats in the J&K Assembly — Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory with a legislature of its own — will also go up by seven seats. The Centre has also planned to hold a fresh delimitation exercise in the state, which could further change the composition of the Assembly.
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Regions that could constitute new division
According to the preliminary plan, the new division could comprise Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda districts from the Jammu region while Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam districts from Kashmir region could also be included in the new division.
Sources told ThePrint that while the ostensible reason behind the move is to provide better administration in the hill areas, the real cause is mostly political, one that could bring rich dividends in the shape of votes for the BJP.
There has been widespread demand from residents of the areas that fall in the Chenab Valley for a separate administrative and revenue division.
In February, the state administration under the then Governor Satya Pal Malik had decided to create a new division of Ladakh comprising the Kargil-Ladakh areas.
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Guess what creating new administrative division including pir panjal and south Kashmir shall isolate the 3 hindu dominant districts of jammu. Bcz pir panjal region is Muslim dominant and most of the muslims will follow and support the Kashmiri muslims.
Modi Govt gotta be frustrated to do that.
BTW in last 5 years we been only discussing hindu Muslim while economy has already plunged to 4.5% GDP rate. Shame that India once fastest growing economy has been reduced to fastest plunging economy.
As your name suggests you are a Frustrated man…..
Yaar apni frustration kahi aur nikalo, why here??
😛😛
GOD HELP MAHABHARAT, THE RETURN OF TRUTH AND PROSPEROUS LAND OF HINDUSTAN, AND REALIZATION BY ALL HUMANS THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AS SAIBABA HAS CHANTED.
This is just frustration of Modi government and changes nothing on ground.Modi and BJP will prove to be a big failure in very near future. Growth is already 3 percent.
Don’t worry Kashmir is on right track, we are lucky that wise ppl of this great Nation chose Modiji who saved Kashmir from becoming radicalised Islamic state….
Otherwise Nehru had ensured this decades ago…..
Modi is correcting the BLUNDERS OF NEHRU
It’s a good new but whoever wrote this article mentioned that JK has been downgraded to Union Territory. What do you mean by downgraded? For your kind information the capital of India is also a Union Territory. Whoever has written this article is not qualified to write articles on political issue.
You are absolutely right bro….
These are sold n pseudo journalists
Yes for the good of jammu and kashmir, to end partiality
Well said fully agree with you
44 : 37. How does that become “ Lion’s share “ ? One presumes the Kashmir Valley has more people than the Jammu region, say eight is to six million. Issues such as these lie at the confluence of governance and politics. How would Sardar Patel have dealt with this file ? Let us not reduce a great nation into an EVM and an army of panna pramukhs. The men who governed India had an imperial vision.
In Democracy nobody is allowed to have hegemonic position.
& Specially not due to Pakistani support.
Andhra & Telangana got splitted due to democratic requirement
Well said
👍👍
this is adding fuel to fire. so this govt., want seperate hindu state. Now this govt., pushing Kasmir to muslim majority state. what is the reason fo r it
In Jammu & Kashmir, Kashmir valley enjoyed articles 370 & 35A. The Indian government gave subsidized items of every type but an impression of people in the valley especially of Muslims was that Delhi is giving them a bribe and so that there was no natural affection towards India. Now question is that what we gain from 70 years in valley i.e. four wars with Pakistan, insurgency supported by Pakistan and about 50000 life losses.
You are absolutely right…..
Kashmir was a big BLUNDER by our so called VISIONARY PM Nehru, I feel he had zero vision n wasted most of his time in womanising…..
Modi is correcting the BLUNDERS OF NEHRU