RIYAZ UL KHALIQ
SRINAGAR
Since Monday morning dozens of vehicles full of residents and political activists reached valley’s media hub, Press Enclave here at Lal Chowk demanding ‘justice’.
The state cabinet nod to new administrative units seems to be emerging new law and order problem for state itself.
After the ‘history’ was created on last cabinet meet held at Jammu, people in valley celebrated it in their own ways. Baand Paether, traditional dance and songs got new life. People blocked roads and set up stages to announce their ‘victory’.
But for some hamlets, these celebrations were short lived. Just a day after approval of new administrative units in favor of their areas, they rose against it crying foul. Some said that being headquarters in their constituencies, nothing was allotted to them.
For some it was political rivalry, and some others said it is poll gimmick.
Accepting recommendations made by Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC), CM Omar Abdullah announced creation of 659 new administrative units.
Angry residents from Wachi and Kapren of South Kashmir’s Shopian district decried the government indifference against their area. They said that Wachi being headquarter in the area has been sidelined in gross violation of rules; three other small hamlets have been upgraded to Tehsil status. They said that the villages are just two kilometers away from each other. “Wachi should be given Tehsil status as it is the largest of all villages in Shopian district but it is government’s political rivalry with the area that is why it is being neglected,” a protestor from the area shouted.
Pertinently, Wachi is represented by Mehbooba Mufti in the legislative Assembly.
For people of Palpora, Wasoora of Pulwama district, the newly created Tehsil is nowhere! “Our village has been Niabat for last 45 years and it should have been upgraded to Tehsil. But what government did is this that it allotted Tehsil status to Shahoora which is actually bond of 12 big villages of which our village is a part,” a local from Palpora told Kashmir Life. “Now the question is where shall be the head quarter,” the local asked assuming that the upgrading and newly created process will put public against each other.
The locals continued that since Shahoora is name for 12 big villages, so everyone will fight for the newly created Tehsil. But as Palpora has been the Niabat, they have the strong case.
Same is the case with Wachi, Zainpora, Imam Sahib and Mulo Chitragam. The protestors from the area claimed that the newly three created Tehsils fall at a distance of two kilometers each which is nothing but to put people against each other. “It will be very problematic for us back home as tension is brewing in the minds of people there. People have blocked roads, one area in mourning and others are celebrating their success,” a protestor said.
As police was busy managing these protests one after the other besides traffic along the congested residency road, employees of State Aids Control Department reached the place and started demanding justice. The protestors appealed government to regularize their services.
On the other side it was applicants of various posts advertised by JKSSRB who started shouting slogans asking for redressal of their problems. They wanted single notification for their interview.
“The business is up,” exclaimed the Chai Walla in the colony, apparently pointing towards media persons covering the events.
