Staff Report
Creation of a seperate Union Territory in Kashmir for the return of Kashmiri Pandits has picked up momentum. The idea that drew less attention earlier has become center stage amid the political stalemate in Kashmir.
Among the several political proposals in Jammu and Kashmir that talk of division, a seperate state for Jammu and creation of UT in Kashmir are widely discussed in political circles. These couldn’t have come at a time when BJP is finding it increasingly difficult to form government on its own strength in Jammu and Kashmir and a hung verdict, political observers say, would only mean that Kashmir continues to stay as a Union territory.
Though there were other proposals that were discussed earlier like creation of a seperate division in Kashmir by combining areas of Chenab Valley and Southern Kashmir, this is something which has not formed into a public proposal of any political group.With New Delhi keen on return of Kashmiri Pandits and BJP pitching for giving even voting rights to non locals, a new UT for KPs has gained momentum.
Several KP leaders said that the new UT has to be created on an area on the right side of river Jhelum. ” This would also mean population exchange with Hindus and Muslims living seperately,” said a KP employee working in Kashmir.
Panun Kashmir convenor, Dr Agnishekhar, said that the UT can be created in southern kashmir areas of Anantnag and Qazigund to settle back over 60,000 families who are living outside Kashmir.
Panun Kashmir last month readopted a December 28, 1991 resolution to create a ” homeland” on a UT in Kashmir. This has come in the wake of recent killings of members of non local Hindus and some members of KP community in Kashmir.
However most of the KP employees have returned to work while BJP government has continued with the proposals of building migrant colonies for employees working here. The party is also seeking to diversify the fold to include other Hindus who could live in Kashmir and even become eligible for government jobs.
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Folowing such measures several militant groups have been floated which have specifically talked against ” demographic” change in Kashmir.
Seperatist Hurriyat Conference has opposed demographic changes in the Muslim majority region.
According to several people who are working on Indo-Pakistan peace initiatives, Pakistan is seeking concessions in terms of release of more political detainees and particularly insisting against change in demographic composition of the region.