Better for Kashmir if Jammu Is Separated, Says Former Srinagar Mayor

Srinagar, Jan 18: Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has launched a sharp political critique of the idea of a “united” Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the concept lacks historical, cultural and linguistic basis and has evolved into what he described as an abusive and exploitative political arrangement for Kashmiris.

Mattu wrote on X, stating that the foundation of Jammu and Kashmir, rooted in the Treaty of Amritsar, represented an unjust beginning that Kashmiris have never been able to identify with or celebrate. He said Kashmir bore the brunt of prolonged turmoil, losing thousands of young lives, while Jammu, according to him, received sympathy and concessions during the same period.

The former mayor alleged that policies over the years have disproportionately favoured the Jammu region, particularly in matters of reservation and access to opportunities. He said the reservation framework is Jammu-driven and benefits both Hindu and Muslim communities of the region, while Kashmiri Muslims are increasingly being pushed out of the professional and economic mainstream.

Mattu warned that Kashmiris today face an uncertain future, with shrinking opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs. He described this situation as a form of political punishment imposed collectively on the region, leaving little hope for the next generation.

Referring to renewed demands for separate statehood for Jammu, Mattu said the move once again reflects what he termed indifference towards Kashmiris. He said that if the authorities proceed with carving out a separate Jammu state, it would, in his view, amount to a favour for Kashmir rather than a loss.

Calling the idea of a united Jammu and Kashmir a romantic but unrealistic construct, Mattu said regional differences with Jammu and Ladakh are far deeper than any shared commonalities. He asserted that Kashmiris cannot afford to spend another generation attempting to prove their nationalism to those who, he claimed, have shown intolerance even in educational spaces.

Urging political leadership to confront reality, Mattu said rhetoric and poetic language can no longer conceal the depth of the divide. He described the situation as requiring an unavoidable political correction, adding that delaying it would only worsen the crisis. [KNT]