The Great Divide
Jammu's Anger
- Wants restoration of the 39.88 hectares of land allotted to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The J&K government has withdrawn the allocation.
- Governor N.N. Vohra, seen as sympathetic to the Kashmiris, should quit
- Kashmir-sympathetic leadership at the state and Centre discriminated against the Jammu region
- The 2001 National Conference government legislation has put a ban on delimitation of constituencies till 2026. People in the Jammu region, which has more area and population than the Valley, feel they deserve more seats in the assembly.
Discontent In The Valley
- Don't want restoration of land to the Amarnath shrine board
- Many feel diversion of land to the shrine board means settlements of non-Kashmiris in the Valley
- Resentment against blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar highway by Hindu protesters
Genesis Of The Controversy
- May 26: The Congress-People's Democratic Party (PDP) government clears the diversion of 39.88 hectares of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The allotment is approved by two PDP ministers.
- A few days after the land diversion is approved, the PDP launches an agitation against it. Violent protests in the Valley.
- June 28: PDP withdraws support to Ghulam Nabi Azad's Congress-led government.
- June 29: Governor N.N. Vohra, also the chairman of the shrine board, says the board doesn't need the land
- July 1: The minority government reverses its earlier allotment of land. The Azad government falls on July 7.
- Valley celebrates the reversing of the land transfer order. However, Hindu anger erupts in the Jammu region. The state has been on the boil ever since.
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"Awake Jammu! Awake! This is the time to come out and show our unity and strength. If you miss this opportunity, your children will ask you why you have become slaves of a Kashmir-centric leadership. Pass this SMS to at least 10Jammuites...."
—Text message which spread like wildfire, leading to a state clampdown on SMSes
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his speech in Parliament
Outlook
