Winter capital simmers as Saffron brigade turns on the heat with anti Kashmir rhetoric

Amid growing threat to Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis for leaving Jammu, the plains of winter capital seem to be heading for a 2008-like agitation with saffron groups starting “motivational exercises” and “anti-Kashmir street meetings”.
The alarm bells were set ringing with vitriolic tweets of hardcore saffron ideology, Hari Om.
Om was instrumental in arousing passions in Jammu in 2008 when Kashmir was witnessing an uprising against the controversial transfer of State land to Amarnath shrine board leading to the two-month blockade of Kashmir by the Hindutva groups in Jammu.
“Don’t worry people of Jammu and Ladakh are as they are. Days are not far when nation will witness 2008-like situation in Jammu. Kashmiri Muslims quit Jammu in 2008,” Om tweeted.
In reaction, a Kashmiri Pandit, Vijaya Dhar tweeted, “Separation from Kashmir is necessary for Jammu and Ladakh and government would not do it unless people force them. No other way.”
Another netizen, Shanmukh reacted to Vijaya Dhar tweeting, “KPs should have their own state or union territory too. They cannot exist as part of Kashmir State.”
The divisive tweets have opened Pandora’s Box of communal politics in the region.
Talking to Kashmir Post, Om, while explaining the motive of his tweets, said: “Anything can happen any time. Jammu seems silent. But it does not mean everything is fine. Jammu will again stand up against Kashmir. Every political party whether it is National Conference, Congress or any other irrespective of their political affiliations, they have joined hands keeping in view sentiments of Jammuities.”
He said, “Meetings are going on in every nook and corner. People are prepared for another phase of agitation. Every political and non-political organisation has joined hands. Jammu can tolerate discrimination but cannot compromise on its political space to Kashmir.”
On what was brewing this anger in Jammu, Om said, “A section of Jammu society is feeling insecure and the anger is against Kashmiri leadership and the ruling BJP, which, for the sake of power, surrendered every big issue before Kashmir.”
He said the Kashmiri leaders including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former CM Omar Abdullah had given provocative statements against Jammuites, which would not be tolerated.
Mehbooba had said the people who talk about abrogating Article 370 were anti-nationals.
Om said in 2008, he had given slogans ‘Bathandi Chalo’ and ‘Islamic blockade’, which had worked as the Hindutva brigade in Jammu was able to implement Kashmir blockade.
“We are against Kashmiri Muslims not against Jammu Muslims, who, like us, are sufferers at the hands of Kashmiri leadership,” he said explaining why Hindutva brigade was creating a hostile situation causing insecurity to a section of Muslim community in Jammu.
“In 1998, Jammu remained shut for 19 days,” Om said. “At that time, I was the Head of the History department in the University of Jammu and led the movement and people supported the cause.”
He said Jammu had reacted against the Kashmir leadership for establishment of AIIMS, which was not that big an issue.
“Jammu will never tolerate Kashmiri leadership and Kashmir will see when Jammu launches another phase of agitation for their rights,” Om said.
However, the government is not worried about these “motivational exercises” and “anti-Kashmir street meetings”.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Chairman and former MLA Ramnagar, Harsh Dev Singh told Kashmir Post that there was a possibility of a massive agitation in Jammu.
“Jammu has witnessed the worst-ever phase of discrimination in this government and they (BJP) surrendered everything for power,” he said. “They have become party to discrimination with Jammu.”
Talking to Kashmir Post, BJP’s Rajya Sabha Member, Shamsher Singh Manhas said, “The opposition in Jammu is exposed and in fact there is no opposition in Jammu.”