Jammu witnessing gradual emergence of ‘young leadership’

In the last nine months after the abrogation of J&K’s special status, Jammu has witnessed gradual emergence of a “new leadership” with no party affiliation.

These people, mostly highly qualified, have consistentlytaken to social media demanding restoration of statehood and 4G internet,besides highlighting under-development and unemployment. They have also demandedwithdrawal of age-relaxation for government jobs and impressed that authoritiesbe held accountable for their “failure” on issues of public concern.

   

They took separate initiatives and little did they know eachother. On domicile law, social activist and law scholar from the University ofJammu, Sohail Malik took to social media and posted ‘I stand in protest” withblack background.

Within hours, it became viral on social media where peoplestarted expressing resentment against domicile law which, according to them,has compromised their job rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

They took on police asking them to arrest those who gavethem “false assurances instead of threatening us for expressing concern overdomicile law”.

“Long way to go, before we sleep,” I hope visionof Maharaja Hari Singh will not be crushed by BJP (Domicile/state subject law)I don’t want to see my RS Pura Basmati fields ruined, polluted factories onKarewas and Industries on Apple orchards. We want protection of our land at anycost and Statehood for J&K,” Sohail Malik, wrote after welcoming theamendment of domicile.

Malik has become an iconic youth identity in Jammu like manyothers, who took to facebook to express resentment when main political partieschose words cautiously before making any statement.

In his recent post, Malik wrote “Like Dogri & Kashmiriin the 8th schedule, we want Gujari and Pahari there as well to protect ourcultures and identity of whole state!! Dogra, Kashmiri, Gujjar and Pahari areone & United.”

“#Statehood #ProtectionOfLand,” he wrote on social media,indicating the youth have many issues to highlight in coming days.

Similar voices were raised with posters on the facebook andtwitters expressing strong resentment against ‘domicile law’ in which allgovernment jobs, except level-4, were earlier made open for all India levelcompetition.

“Once a staunch BJP supporter, I am betrayed today.#Domicile law against us. BJP against JK,” Vishal appeared on the facebook andit started trending on the social media attracting hundreds in support againstthe domicile.

Choudhary told Greater Kashmir that “Unwillingly, I came outwhen the domicile law was made public. Outsiders were preferred in jobs, andresidents of J&K were ignored was the main trigger to hold protest.”

“We lost our patience. I have less legal knowledge, but Iknew it (domicile in earlier form) was against the youth and their right tojob. Hence, I did not remain silent,” Choudhary, who did Post Graduation inGeology from University of Jammu, said.

Youth from different fields including Kanwal Singh, KapilSharma, Vishal Suddan, Arun Singh, Shahida, Guftar Choudhry, Samreen Choudhary,Syed Zeshan and many others joined the chorus.

In absence of political leaders who are selective on manyissues, these youth highlighted public issues.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

12 + 10 =