Bhagwat’s visit comes in backdrop of Jammu seething with anger
JAMMU, 4 October (H.S) RSS Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived Jammu on Sept 30 on a fourday visit.
It is his post abrogation of Art 370 visit after was J&K being made a union Territory. His visits comes in the back of seething anger in Jammu against host of decisions taken by the UT administration and Kashmiri Muslims in the UT nursing sense of ?victimisation? Mohan Bhagwat?s last visit to J&K was in 2017 when he chaired a meeting of important dignitaries of Sangh from across the India. This time it would entail reviewing the functioning and activities of Sangh in J&K and Ladakh since Sangh considers J&K and Ladakh as one unit.
RSS chief is not scheduled to address any public meeting but will meet select few citizens at a function to be held at an auditorium in Jammu University. He would meet members of Praja Parishad Party.
Praja Parishad Party founded in Jammu in November 1947, after Maharaja Hari Singh was forced to move out of Kashmir, started agitation for ?Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan, Do Nishan- Nahin Chaleinge, Nahin Chaleinge? . RSS activists Balraj Madhok and Premnath Dogra were the force behind this agitation. Modi Government fulfilled this demand of Praja Parishad on Aug 5, 2019 by abrogation of Art 370 and scrapping Art 35-A. But, what is little known is the fact that undertone of this movement or agitation was also against Kashmir?s hegemony and the ?vindictive? approach of the late Sheikh Abdullah and subsequent Chief Ministers against Jammu.
Post Abrogation of article 370,the anger of business community of late has also been targeted against Sangh as there is a perception it has failed to ?secure? interests of Jammu. Almost all important educational institutions of Jammu provinces are being headed by people not from Jammu. Though, these are apparently Government decisions based on merit but it is also a common knowledge that these are political decisions and since BJP is in power, Sangh presumably has a role.
Even though RSS chief is not scheduled to discuss political and economic developments of Jammu and Kashmir but he is most likely to get feed back about it from the top functionaries of the Sangh even if during an informal meeting. Mohan Bhagwat who had called abrogation of Art 370 courageous decision, comes to UT when J&K administration is acting tough against ?antinational? and separatist forces especially in Kashmir.
The Government has till now terminated services of about 25 employees on the charges of having ?terror? links. J&K Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari this week said the Government has virtually ?terminated? all Kashmiris. Bukhari said Kashmiri muslims have been taken of from important positions in bureaucracy and police. Since 2019 , Kashmiri muslims have nursed a sense of being ?victimised? and ?sidelined? by the J&K Government, a concern highlighted by all important Kashmir based leaders including Dr Farooq Abdullah, who had even said that Kashmiri Muslims officers are being ?humiliated?. In July, Bhagwat while addressing an event organised by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch on the theme ?Hindustani First, Hindustan First?, had denounced lynching terming it against Hindutava.
He also said people shouldn?t get trapped in the cycle of fear that Islam is in danger in India. ?DNA of all Indians are same, irrespective of religion..we are in a democracy where there can?t be a dominance of Hindus or Muslims. There can only be the dominance of Indians.? After abrogation of Art 370, J&K residents more so Kashmiri Muslims have realised the fact that Indian-Kashmir binary has obliterated. They are seeking answers if they will be treated as ?equal? if DNA of every Indian is same as believed by Bhagwat. Jammu is seeking ?rewards? for years of political struggle in realising the ultimate goal of Sangh and BJP.
