The question is straight. Why should Jammu and Kashmir get a Chief Minister from a particular religion all the time? The so-called mainstream parties in the Union Territory and the leaders of national parties keep trumpeting J&K as a beautiful vase of colourful flowers but still keep shying in empowering the people politically, irrespective of religion or regional affiliations. Can they show the magnanimity of supporting a Hindu Chief Minister for the new UT?
Er. Jitender Kohli (Retd), Senior Columnist, Ex- Press Public Secy VHP J&K: “Since 1947 the Kashmir centric Valley leadership dominated the entire J&K , courtesy the open heartedly support of Nehru-Gandhi family led Congress. This rendered Jammu leaders as second fiddlers, whether in the government or outside. BJP was politically nowhere to contest or resist discrimination.
The political changes were felt with the awakening of Jammu people in 2008 Shri Amarnath land agitation and after change of guard at the Centre in 2014. The BJP was acknowledged for its ideology. Though lacking towering leadership yet the BJP handsomely won elections in Jammu region due to the Narendra Modi wave. Some Jammu leaders remained with the Kashmir centric parties and some who couldn’t get tickets to contest revolted against the BJP. Jammu failed in getting majority on its own to be at the driver’s seat with regard to governance. The BJP aligned with the PDP to drive the latter to national mainstream. However, all this fizzled out as PDP preferred to profess and practice separatists’ ideology. Revocation of the temporary Article 370 and Article 35 A was a historic step to, inter allia, end the discrimination and steer Jammu and Kashmir to progress, development and equality opportunities to all irrespective of religion, region, caste and creed. It signalled the end to dynastic rule. Unfortunately Jammu region has always suffered a leadership crisis with the honourable exception of Pt. Prem Nath Dogra and Pt. Trilochan Dutt. This has hit the Jammu interest severely. On the other hand, the Kashmiri leadership never told truth to the people of the Valley and exploited their sentiments for their vested interest. This all has been detrimental to the growth of harmony and prosperity of J&K Now is the time for the people to elect honest representatives who are capable of dispensing good governance. They must elect a sincere and well meaning Chief Minister who can put the Union Territory on the right track. Therefore, there is no issue whether the Chief Minister is Hindu or Muslim.
Ashwani Khosla, Social Activist: “Whenever the word ‘Hindu Chief Minister makes rounds, my mind goes into a state of hallucination; whether we are over thinking or demanding more for the single vote we cast during general elections. But as we dig deeper into the history and consider geo- political aspirations of the people of Jammu, the answer is surely “Yes we want one”. And on the other side the question that pops up prior to this, ” Who is the right person for the job?” As we all are aware of the fact that the people of Jammu have suffered so much at the hands of Kashmir centric politicians– whether it is the central government or the local leadership, both have always been puppets in the hands of Kashmiri leaders and no one has ever dared to stand for the cause of Jammu. They just bartered our interests with their own chairs. If we look for the local chief ministerial candidate, the person should have a stable mindset, well versed with local issues ranging from unemployment to the damage done by the COVID 19 on the economy and the lives of each and every section of the society. He must have a vision to address the issues of the people in general and the Jammuties in particular. Therefore, names like Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP) , Sunil Sharma (BJP) and Devendra Singh Rana (NC) come to mind.”
Sumeet Kerni, Businessman:””In a democracy, it should not matter as to who becomes Chief Minister in any of the states of the Indian union. Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority Union Territory or part in the country, is debating whether a Hindu can become a Chief Minister.
There has never been such an instance. On the contrary, Hindu-majority states like Bihar and Maharashtra have had Muslim chief ministers but this logic does not work in J&K even if the Hindus comprise a big chunk of population, particularly in the Jammu region. I support Dr. Jitender Singh as CM.
Due to his efforts, dozens of welfare schemes are under implementation for the socio-economic upliftment of the weaker sections, women, farmers, ex-servicemen, youth and the border people. “
Navneet Mahajan, Govt employee : “I think the world would have been a better place if we stop seeing it with an eye of Hindu or Muslim. The problem lies with the mentality which tries to create divide. I come from a region where Hindus are minority and Muslims are majority. Believe me, till my teenage I hardly had this Hindu-Muslim thing in my mind. I will support a CM who will be a true person, willing to work for people and for development.”
Dev Anand Gill, President Civic Safai Karamchari Union, Jammu “I want a Hindu to be Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir whenever elections would be held in the Union Territory because no person from this community has ever been nominated and elected for this highest post during the past over seven decades. Moreover, Jammu region is always discriminated against on this account. We also want elections to be held in the Union Territory at the earliest because the present ‘bureaucratic government’ is not able to solve the problems of the common man on ground. Elected government is more suitable to project the demands of people at an appropriate level.