Khand Mithe Log Dogre
PM Narendra Modi visited Jammu on February 20, 2024, and won the hearts and minds of the Dogras — inhabitants of Jammu province. That day, he, in fact, addressed a huge public rally at Maulana Azad (MA) Stadium, the same venue from where he had hinted while addressing the Lalkar Rally on December 1, 2013, that the BJP, if voted to power at the Centre, would not only scrap discriminatory and essentially separatist Article 370 but would also end the 66-year-old atrocious dynastic politics in J&K. And he fulfilled the solemn commitment that he held out more than a decade ago on the epoch-making August 5, 2019.
Very significantly, the PM started his speech in Dogri, the language of the Dogras, who inhabit the great land that lies between River Ravi and the mighty Pir Panjal Mountains. He invoked great Dogra poetess Padma Sachdev and addressed the Dogras like this: “Mithi Ae Dogre Di Boli, Te Khand Mithe Log Dogre” (Sweet is the language of the Dogras and very sweet are the Dogras).
No reference to Dogras’ woes
The PM spoke almost on everything – abrogation of Article 370 and its very positive impact on the people; empowerment of the hitherto neglected, discriminated against, and disempowered communities, including Hindu-Sikh refugees from Pakistan, Valmikis and Gurkhas and refugees from Pakistan-occupied-J&K; fillip to the process of integration of the region with the rest of Bharat; prevailing security environment in the region; ongoing developmental schemes, including the construction of highways, tunnels, and modern railway tracks; establishment of colleges, medical colleges and prestigious institutions like AIIMS, IIT, IIM and so on; the menace of corruption and mal-administration; 370 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP and over 400 seats to the BJP-led NDA; and baneful influence of dynastic politics on the state polity, society, economy and democratic processes. He, in addition, explained away his vision for J&K and Ladakh and reassured the people of both the Union Territories that his government was committed to making the region more prosperous than ever before and seeing to it that all the benefits of the Centrally-sponsored schemes reached all the people, without any exception. His whole speech focused on the whole region; he didn’t give any differential and preferential to either of the regions – Jammu and Kashmir Valley.
In addition, the PM inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs.32,000 crores. The projects are related to several sectors, including health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum, and civic infrastructure among others. The Prime Minister also distributed appointment orders to about 1500 new government recruits of J&K.
However, there was no reference whatsoever in his hour-long speech to the woeful tales of the Dogras. The Dogras — whose contribution to the process of integration into Bharat was, and is, just spectacular and splendid, and who made supreme sacrifices since 1846 to curb and check the politics secessionism and fanaticism in Kashmir, keep the Valley under control, save Kashmir for Bharat, protect and promote the Sanatan Dharma in the Valley, and end the centuries-old process of Hindu migration from Kashmir. The suffering, rigorously excluded, and politically and economically marginalized Dogras were expecting that the PM would make some announcement that empowered the disempowered Dogras but it didn’t happen. Perhaps, he thought it politically prudent to ignore this otherwise burning problem in Jammu province.
Fault lies with local BJP leaders
It would not be out of place to mention here that it was the local BJP leadership that failed the Dogras by not urging the PM to say something about their miseries and woes. It was the responsibility of the local BJP leadership to present a true story of facts to him and fight for their trusted and tested constituency like the Kashmiri leaders of all hues fight for the respective constituencies in the Valley. That they again let down the Dogras speaks for itself. Will the local BJP leadership ever rise to the occasion and persuade the South and North Blocks to treat the Dogras like New Delhi has been treating the people of Ladakh, especially the Buddhists? Will they fight for statehood for Jammu as the BJP leadership fought for separate Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh? Will they ever muster courage? These are very difficult questions to be answered given the track record of the chicken-hearted, weak, and confused local BJP leadership.
Praise for PM from unexpected quarters: Farooq, Baig
Strange and unexpected things happened during the PM’s Jammu visit. On the one hand, NC Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar and former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah praised the PM, and, on the other, founder member of the separatist People’s Democratic Party (PDP), votary of self-rule (read virtually independent J&K) and former J&K Deputy CM Muzaffar Baig came from Kashmir to Jammu to attend the PM’s rally and heap praise on the PM.
All this, notwithstanding the fact that the PM attacked the traditional Kashmiri politicians and the kind of dirty politics they played all through and also despite the fact that the PM didn’t say a word on the restoration of statehood and Assembly elections in J&K.
What did Farooq Abdullah say? Farooq Abdullah, who attended the flagging ceremony of the train from Srinagar Railway Station and praised and thanked the PM, among other things, said: “It is a significant step, and I want to congratulate the Railway Ministry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it possible. I also want to congratulate all the railway employees and other individuals associated with the project…“Today, it is up to Sangaldan (Jammu), and I am sure it will soon reach Katra (Jammu). The train service will resolve the issues that used to arise due to road blockades. It is crucial for tourism, and goods will be transported from here to other States and vice versa, boosting trade as well…I hope this train will be beneficial for the people of the region. We were expecting this service in 2007, but our region has tough terrain requiring.”
And, what did Baig say? “The lives of people in the country have changed under his regime…He strongly believes in Prime Minister Modi’s remarks that the BJP would secure 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections…If you cannot trust his (PM’s) word (on 370 seats in the LS polls), how can you trust my words? It (BJP getting 370 seats and NDA getting 400 seats in LS polls) will happen…He is not affiliated with the PDP. I am neither with the PDP nor do I intend to apply to join them. If approached, I will convey that our focus should be on national welfare rather than personal gains.”
Significantly, only on January 7, 2024, on the death anniversary of party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Baig paid his respects at Sayeed’s mausoleum in Bijbhera, Kashmir. And, at that time, he had said that “he would not sever ties with the PDP ever. My heart has always been with the PDP.”
In other words, at the PM’s Jammu rally, Baig spoke in a different language. He said: “His (PM’s) speech was a masterpiece. Today, he spoke in detail about development. People are benefiting from it, and their lives are changing…That electricity has reached distant areas that were in darkness for years and the areas without water supply or roads now have both. Hospitals have been established in remote areas.”
Not just this, Baig credited the PM for “bringing peace and normalcy in J&K due to his bold and compassionate decisions.” “No one in the past has done as much work as he has done. When he came to power, he started the journey of development, and today, it has reached its zenith,” he, in fact, said.
And, when asked “whether he will join the BJP or will be the BJP’s candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir”, Baig said, “he will respond only after he is approached by the party.”
It needs to be underlined that Baig had “diverged from the party’s stance after the abrogation of Article 370” and just six months after the abrogation of Article 370, Baig was conferred the Padma Bhushan in January 2020. It should also be noted that Baig was among the first political leaders from Kashmir to “denounce Article 370 as a legislative artifact of history.”
Another strange development
If Farooq Abdullah praised the PM, the party that he heads treaded a different path. It tore into the PM and, inter-alia, said: “PM Narendra Modi’s Jammu visit as it has proved to be underwhelming due to the absence of any new packages, promises, or announcements for the aspiring people of the region…The much-awaited visit of PM Modi has shattered the dreams of the people who were expecting a lot from their Prime Minister as there are still many promises unfulfilled…, statehood, Assembly polls and so many other issues confronting the population with local administration remaining clueless on almost all these problems…” “Restoration of the political process and return of statehood, besides continuing the process of ensuring governance as started by the NC government during the tenure of Omar Abdullah, because till date the helmsmen in J&K have not done anything significant in this direction except rhetoric for which the party in power is famous for,” the NC also said in a written statement.
Congress also made an identical statement
As for the JKPCC, it, among other things, said: “He (PM) didn’t refer to the early restoration of statehood, democracy and protection of jobs and lands, the popular demand of people of J&K…The PM continued to remain silent on the promised restoration of statehood to J&K or instilling a sense of confidence among the people about the restoration of the democratic process, which has stood denied for nearly five years…The PM was expected to address the aspirations of people of all sections, who are seeking restoration of full statehood and early restoration of democratically elected government but it has proved that BJP does not bother about the people’s aspirations and hardships under the bureaucratic regime, not accountable to the people.”
Conclusion
One thing is very clear: The Kashmiri politicians and the Kashmiri parties have not only turned confused, but they are also speaking differently in different places. So much so, that the parties are taking a line that appears quite inconsistent with the lines politicians like Farooq Abdullah take. This is much for the Kashmiri leaders and their parties. As for the BJP, it doesn’t know what to do and what not to do. It failed to feel the pulse of the Dogras of Jammu and it continues to play with the Dogra sentiments believing that they are safe and secure as long as PM Modi and HM Amit Shah are at the helm of affairs.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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