As the countdown begins for the annual Amarnath yatra in the state, noises around the pilgrimage have begun to re-emerge. From the smaller concerns of tax on porters, hawkers and pilgrims to larger issues of yatra duration are doing the rounds.
Until 2008, most of the noise around the Yatra was confined to Kashmir valley, where issues of security and environment would pop up time and again. But post 2008, which saw an unprecedented Amarnath agitation polarising the two regions to the state, any talks on the issue draw reactions from all over India mostly with communal overtones.
So when Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani warned of an agitation, demanding yatra to be reverted to its traditional 15-day duration, Jammu Hindu rightwing activists were up in arms against him. The Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, which by now was apparently defunct, woke from its slumber.
Condemnations and threats poured in from Jammu. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his unique reservation: that why Geelani took up the issue in his rule, and not during PDP rule. Reading between the lines, Abdullah, who seems to sees a PDP hand behind every thorn in his crown, accused Geelani of tacitly aiding PDP. Moreover, Abdullah’s reaction suggested, that he was not against the idea, but against the timing.
Anyways the issue drowned in the turbulent situation in Kashmir and Geelani was put behind bars.
A 15 day low profile affair in pre 1990’s Amarnath Yatra was gradually extended to a month. Later during gubernatorial tenure of controversial S K Sinha, the period was extended to two months much to the annoyance of the then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
Haunting shadows
In 1953 rightwing Indian Hindu leader and founder of Bhartiya Jan Singh, Syama Prasad Mookherjee dared the ‘Lion of Kashmir’ Shiekh Abdullah by entering Jammu and Kashmir without a permit – a mandatory requirement till then.
Mookherjee’s action was seen as an assault on J&K’s limited sovereignty or autonomy, as the state constitution made it mandatory for any non-state citizens to enter Kashmir only on a valid permit, akin to a visa. So until then even the president or prime minister of Indian had to use this permit to enter J&K.
Mookherjee, who opposed J&K’s autonomy started the campaign of EK Vidhan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan and lead a march into the state. Apart from its own constitution and flag, J&K premier was designated as a prime minister and not chief minister as is the case today.
Abdullah arreste
d Mookherjee and lodged him in a special jail created for him at Chesma Shahi. Mookherjee died while in custody in Kashmir on June 23.
The permit system was later erased, and gradually, many special provisions of the state were eroded.
The proponents of Mukherjee, like the Bhartiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, have always been opposed to J&K’s nationalism.
In a way, Mookherjee is seen officially an anti-hero in the state, especially for its largest mainstream political party National Conference.
It could only be ironical that 57 years later, Mokherjee would be remembered and commemorated in the heart of Srinagar, at a place named after Shiekh Abdullah himself, which also is overlooked by the spot where Mookherjee was jailed.
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation organised a Syama Prasad Mookerjee Memorial Seminar on his death anniversary in the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar, which started with paying customary tributes to the rightwing leader.
The seminar avoided lectures on Mookherjee, apparently, to avoid controversy, and instead discussed a security related topic, with defence experts talking on the challenges of a ‘Troubled Neighbourhood’. But the organisers did describe the seminar as historic, as it was meant to commemorate Mookherjee’s death anniversary. The audience was managed by local BJP leaders, which was mainly illiterate rural folk.
Director of the foundation, Tarun Vijay who is also the BJP national spokesman, said the motive of the seminar was to come close to Kashmiris.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Beig who was on the invite list skipped the function, reportedly on last minute advice from friends. Vice Chancellor Kashmir University Riyaz Punjabi, who has the distinction of attending at least one seminar or gathering a day, on anything, was present, and joined in to pay tributes to Mookherjee in the morning.
Last year, a controversy erupted when Jammu University hosted a programme to celebrate Mookherjee’s anniversary where top RRS leaders were invited. Incidentally, both the time, Abdullah’s grandson, Omar held power in the state.
Officer All in All 
Additional Secretary to Government, Information Technology Department, Talat Parvez is man with many arms, virtually. Parvez holds three posts of different departments in his kitty.
Whether or nor that helps fatten his purse is secondary, the primary concern is if and how he is able to manage the affairs of the three departments.
Experts say the postings are in violation of the service rules.
Parvez was recently posted as Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) which operates the Gulmarg Gondola. He holds the additional charges of Director Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), and is ex-officio Chief Executive Officer with the Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency.
Sources say, the officer enjoys the privilege for being close to a former chief minister who holds sway in the current collation too.
Parvez has also been cleared for a deputation to the Central Hajj Committee. Officials are also surprised that how an additional secretary is made the head of a department, which is not standard practice. Only special secretary level officers are posted as heads of departments, nowadays.
