Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in Turmoil Over Regional Identity Dispute
A fierce and ongoing dispute over regional identity and recognition has plunged the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly into chaos for a second consecutive day. The controversy erupted after opposition leader Sunil Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly dismissed the existence of the Pir Panjal region, sparking immediate protests, walkouts, and fervent demands for an apology from fellow lawmakers.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Condemns Remarks
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the assembly on Thursday, stating that Sharma's comments had angered an entire region. He emphasized that it is entirely unsuitable for any politician to mock or deride a geographical area by questioning its very name and identity. Abdullah confirmed that Sharma had yet to issue any form of apology for his inflammatory statements.
Background of the Regional Demand
This heated row follows recent political developments where Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti advocated for the creation of a separate administrative division. This proposed division would encompass the districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Pir Panjal area, along with the Chenab valley districts. Mufti cited factors such as remoteness, challenging hilly terrain, and a significant lack of infrastructure as justification for this administrative change—a demand that the BJP has consistently opposed.
The Pir Panjal region refers to the extensive mountainous belt situated along the Pir Panjal range, located south of the Kashmir valley and in close proximity to the Line of Control (LoC). The Chenab valley includes the rugged districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, which are carved by the powerful Chenab river. Both regions have frequently voiced grievances about being marginalized and overlooked in terms of development, political representation, and administrative focus, often feeling caught between the Jammu division and the Kashmir valley.
Origin of the Controversy
The controversy ignited on Tuesday when Sharma, who represents the Padder-Nagseni constituency in Kishtwar district, responded to a question regarding the potential establishment of a proposed National Law University in the Pir Panjal region. He asserted that no such region exists and claimed he had never encountered the name Pir Panjal in any dictionary. Sharma later escalated the situation by alleging that the term was part of a political conspiracy orchestrated by regional parties, echoing what he described as the concept of a Greater Kashmir—an idea that the BJP would firmly resist and not allow to materialize.
Widespread Protests and Emotional Reactions
Sharma's comments provoked immediate and intense protests from legislators representing Rajouri and Poonch, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Forest Minister Javed Rana, both of whom hail from the affected area. They demanded a formal apology, which Sharma refused to provide.
Independent legislator Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, representing Thanamandi in Rajouri district, expressed that Sharma's statement has deeply wounded public sentiment. This is not just an insult to Pir Panjal but also to Chenab valley—Kishtwar and Doda, he declared. We are border-area people. We have made immense sacrifices, even during Operation Sindoor. In Poonch city alone, sixteen people were killed. Those profound sacrifices have now been insulted.
Continued Unrest in the Assembly
The protests resumed with full force on Thursday as lawmakers accused Sharma of reflecting and promoting hatred towards Pir Panjal and Chenab valley. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated that criticizing a region by questioning its fundamental identity is utterly unacceptable in a diverse Union territory like Jammu and Kashmir, where respect for all communities and geographical identities is paramount.
