POJK is simmering with unrest; there is widespread discontent against Pakistan, especially against the Pakistan Army. Nationalist groups in the POJK are demanding independence from Pakistani rule in the region. Pakistan has tried hard to prevent these groups from flourishing and has denied them freedom of expression. The leaders of these groups are forced to leave their homelands. The situation in POJK has largely remained under the radar of the media. After the earthquake in 2005, when international relief was provided to POJK, the situation on the ground, including the presence of terrorist training camps, came to the attention of the outside world. Pakistan has been indulged in propagating cross-border terrorism in the Kashmir Valley for over 20 years. Pakistan's role in instigating terrorism against India is at the heart of the problems faced by the Indian government in the valley. Popular sentiments caused by local governance issues, which are the characteristics of democracy, have always been used by Pakistan to fund terrorism in the state and defame our country. Meanwhile, the situation in POJK is affected more by ethnicity and culture than religion. Pakistan has manipulated the demography of the region to make the majority of the Shia people into a minority, which has led to sectarian clashes and violent incidents. These nefarious designs of Pakistan have exacerbated the disaffection of the people in POJK, hurting their cultural and origin sensitivities.
However, The Indian Union Territory of J&K offers fair democratic processes that allow for freedom of expression, debate and dialogue. The pace of implementation of government schemes has increased fivefold in the past four years. The districts are the foundation of policies and programs. The grassroots democratic institutions, such as panchayats, urban local bodies, etc., have been empowered to play an active role in the decision-making process to meet the needs of the common people. In the past three years, the government has worked to develop areas that had been neglected until now. The people of the Union territory, including women, have benefited from the equitable governance system. The Union Territory of J&K has opened new doors of success in the fields of business, economy, education, culture, and sports. There have been considerable efforts to ensure the safe repatriation of the Kashmiri pandits who were victimized at the hands of foreign-sponsored terrorism back in the 1990s. The construction of 6,000 accommodations to facilitate their return under the Prime Minister’s Relief and Development Plan (PMDP) is about to be completed. All the Prime Minister Package employees and minority employees are deployed in safe locations. Jobs and housing facilities are being provided for the rehabilitation and social protection of the pandits. Kashmiri Pandits and the other displaced communities have been provided justice through the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Displaced Immovable Property Act (JMP Act). Unlike Pakistan, which has subjected religious minorities, including Hindu and Christian communities, to forced conversions and persecution under the garb of blasphemy laws.
The G-20 Meet, an international event was held for the first time after Article 370 was lifted in 2019. The G-20 meeting saw the highest attendance in the history of the group, with representatives of all G-20 nations attending in addition to delegates from about a dozen other countries. The delegates were captivated by the natural beauty of Kashmir and appreciated the hospitality of the locals, apart from the propaganda that was propagated by Pakistan and its mercenaries. In 2022, J&K had a record 18.8 million tourists visiting the state, including a considerable number of foreign tourists. The influx of tourists confirmed the potential of J&K as a tourist destination. Foreign investors are looking forward to the region’s potential. It paved the way for more opportunities and partnerships for J&K, bringing hope and optimism for a more peaceful and prosperous future, unlike POJK, which is on the brink of total disaster. Pakistan is in dire economic straits and on the brink of bankruptcy, yet it seems to have other things on its mind as it keeps the spotlight on Kashmir to destabilize it.
On February 5, 2024, Islamabad has scheduled nationwide events on Kashmir Solidarity Day to carry out its anti-India campaign, as a tool it often uses to malign the developments in the Kashmir valley. Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir is behind India, the union territory of J&K and its main reason is that the ideology of India is development-oriented while the region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir is used as a center of terrorism by Pakistan. It is merely a tool for Pakistan to gain sympathy to run its government since it has no funds left to run its affairs. Following the repeal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the J&K administration received around Rs 15,000 crore in investment proposals over the years from about 40 companies in sectors like IT, defense, renewable energy, tourism, skiing, education, hospitality and infrastructure. While the Union Territory of J&K continues to develop, POJK continues to languish as an underdeveloped region due to Islamabad’s tag of it as a ‘hub of terrorism.’ Kashmir Valley is receiving major social welfare schemes like the Saubhagya Yojana, under which 8.57 lakh beneficiaries have been covered by providing them with electricity connections. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 12.41 lakh rural women have been provided with LPG connections and it is being ensured that all sections of society benefit from the developmental efforts. Jammu and Kashmir are the first union territory in the country to do so and also the first state or union territory in the country to launch the District Good Governance Index. Unlike POJK, which has been on the brink of downfall due to Pakistan’s evil intentions that it perpetrates as a part of its usual gameplay.
コメント