SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference president and J&K legislator Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday called for “a profound and uncompromising reassessment of the Kashmir-Jammu relationship”, advocating separation of the two regions.Even as governing National Conference, including its president Faooq Abdullah and CM Omar Abdullah, vehemently rejected such demands as divisive and echoing Pakistan’s agenda, Lone rejected the argument that the separation would translate into animosity between the people of the two regions. “Are the people of Maharashtra not our brothers? Are those from Delhi or Gujarat not our brothers? Thousands come here, and they are welcome. In the same spirit, the people of Jammu will remain our brothers tomorrow as well. God willing, even after separation, brotherhood will remain,” he said.On Farooq’s statement that a division would be against secular ethos, Lone said: “India has a population of 1.5 billion. We are barely six or seven million. Aren’t we speaking far beyond our weight? Did we ever sign a contract to safeguard secularism?” Kashmiri leaders routinely claimed the moral high ground of secularism, while students from the Valley continued to be beaten, humiliated and targeted across the country, he alleged. Kashmiris had never consented to bear this disproportionate burden of unity, he asserted. Lone said while Kashmiri Muslims remained on the frontline in the fight against terrorism, with nearly 90% of police martyrs being from the community, a “relentless campaign of hatred”, he alleged, was emanating from Jammu.As a debate rages on over the issue, with Jammu repeatedly alleging discrimination by Kashmir-centric govt, the People’s Conference chief had recently reacted strongly after BJP and a section of the high court bar association raised a demand that the National Law University proposed in Budgam be shifted to Jammu. “Maybe, the time has come for an amicable divorce. This is not just about development. Jammu has become the proverbial stick to beat Kashmiris with,” Lone said.
