Al Jazeera’s story on the proposed redrawing of electoral map in Jammu and Kashmir lacks correct assessment of the ground situation

Point:

As per Al Jazeera report, a controversial proposal to redraw the electoral map of Indian-administered Kashmir has caused anxiety and anger among the region’s Muslims, who say the move is aimed at “disempowering” them.

The ground situation in the valley is normal right now. No protest or resentment can be seen anywhere. It’s the fringe elements who are trying to cause a stir in Jammu and Kashmir. The Central government has already maintained that delimitation should happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and Jammu and Kashmir gets an elected government that gives strength to its development trajectory. Today J&K is on the road to development, in 2021, development in areas like infrastructure, roads, electricity, sanitation gained momentum like never before.

Ex-Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who is also a senior Congress leader recently refrained from speaking against the Election Commission’s move to redraw the electoral map of the Union Territory. His advocacy that the government should conclude the delimitation process in the Union Territory by February, 2022, was seen as tacit support to redrawing of the electoral map in Jammu and Kashmir.

Al Jazeera said the proposed redistribution of assembly seats is “highly skewed” in favour of Jammu and could turn Muslims into a political minority in India’s only Muslim-majority region.

Tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir--Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis, Sippis and Shina/Dards have welcomed the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission. As per 2011 census, tribal communities account for 11.9 per cent of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir and they follow Islamic religion. These tribal community members have termed the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission regarding the reservation of nine seats for tribal in J-K Assembly as a step that will prove historic towards tribal development and their political empowerment. Overall the draft recommendation of the Delimitation Commission has given six new assembly seats to the Jammu region, while one for Kashmir. With this, the total seat tally for the Jammu region will increase from 37 to 43, while for Kashmir, the seat tally will increase to 47. A close look at the six additional constituencies, recommended for the Jammu division, suggests that while two constituencies are Hindu dominated, one is predominantly Muslim population and three have a mixed demographic profile. According to data from the 2011 Census, Kathua and Samba have a Hindu population of 87.6 per cent and 86.33 per cent respectively, while in Reasi, 62.7 per cent of the people are Muslim. Doda has 45.77 per cent Hindus and 53.82 per cent Muslims, while in Kishtwar, there are 40.72 per cent Hindus and 57.75 per cent Muslims. Hence to say that the proposed redistribution of assembly seats could turn Muslims into a political minority in Jammu and Kashmir is incorrect and baseless.

Al Jazeera said political leaders of the valley believe that the majority community of Muslims will be divided and disempowered in totality.

Kashmiri political leadership, without any exception, has made the draft report of the J&K Delimitation Commission “controversial” by raking up the perennial issue of Muslims versus Hindus. There is nothing new for the Kashmiri leadership, including seemingly pro-Delhi groups, to join hands whenever their “fiefdom” (Jammu) gets some shade of political empowerment. Read the complete article in DailyExcelsior.com