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| Jagmohan was a visionary | |
By Dr.Ramesh Tamiri
Jagmohan Malhotra (1927-2021), former Governor J&K, passed away in New Delhi on 3 May 2021. The nation remembers Jagmohan for the work he did in retrieving Kashmir at a time when it seemed it was lost. His consistent efforts to build national sensitivity on Kashmir made him a national hero.
Superb Administrator
Jagmohan’s work as a great administrator has been overshadowed by his strong concern to deal firmly with terrorism in Kashmir. Jagmohan succeeded as an administrator because of two qualities.One,he took his work as a personal mission and secondly, he tackled situations by cutting through official red tape.
Visionary
Jagmohan held a civilisational view of India –an India that was modern but firmly rooted in civilisational continuity.He was sensitive to religio-civilisational significance of Vaishnodevi shrine pilgrimage.Like holy Amarnath Yatra Vaishno Devi pilgrimage too has a pan-India dimension.The two yatras not only give spiritual solace to the devotees but also unite India. Formation of the Vaishnodevi Shrine Board by Jagmohan has not only improved facilities for the pilgrims but also generated huge revenues to create employement and establish a University.
Kashmir
First tenure
Seeds for what unfolded in 1989-90 as large-scale terrorism had been sown in 1981-82 soon after Afghanistan became the hotspot in the war between erstwhile Soviet Union and US-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia combine.Diversion of Afghan pipeline to Kashmir began in early 1980s and by spring of 1983 it was well-known that Kashmiri youth in hundreds were being sent across to training camps in Pakistan.Jamaat Islami was a key element in the new subversive campaign.What role the State Govt.headed by National Conference played ,either in allowing it or in dealing with subversive elements,has remained under wraps and needs investigation.
In an interview to late Girilal Jain in 1984 Primeminister Indira Gandhi minced no words in saying that her army commanders were complaining that their sources were drying up on the borders.Though she did not indict Dr.Farooq Abdullah directly yet she blamed his ‘incompetency’ for deterioration of the situation.It was to deal with this situation that Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided to send Jagmohan as new Governor to the state.
Given the serious situation in the state in any case National Conference Govt. had to go.PM Indira Gandhi had two clear choices.One,to deal national security problem as a national security problem,overriding her party interest. This would mean dismissal of Dr.Farooq Abdullah ministry and putting the state under Governor’s rule for a few years to revamp the administration and deal with subversive threats directly.Second option was to treat the national security problem as a party problem to gain political power through backdoor.She went for the second option.For this country had to pay a heavy price.
Jagmohan had suggested the first option.He is on record saying,”...my recommendations to the President on July 2,1984,to impose Governor’s Rule and to use the period for building a healthy institutional framework and for nipping subversion and terrorism in the bud were ignored by the central leadership.”(Reshaping Kashmir policy,p.17,Shaping India’s New Destiny)
During his brief rule in 1986 Governor Jagmohan took measures mostly on the developmental front.For the first time recruitment to J&K Bank was fair.So was Regional Engineering College selection process.Kashmiri Hindus who had faced institutionalised discrimination felt relieved over fair selection.Agriculture graduates who had been unemployed for many years were recruited. Roads got a new look.Grievance cell set up Governor’s Office ensured speedy disposals.Every section of population felt happy.
Second Tenure
This time Governor Jagmohan was in an unenviable position. It were terrorists who were calling the shots. The local administration had turned defunct. Leaders,cadres and sympathisers of mainstream regional and national parties were giving ads. In local dailies that they had nothing to do with their parent parties just to save their lives. There were open calls to indoctrinated Kashmiri youth to go across for training in subversion.Security forces and police had become bystanders. People feared for their lives if they associated with the administration.
It was this challenge Jagmohan had to counter when he took over the reins on 19 January 1990.He had three tasks to perform.One,to revamp the administration to make it effective.Two,to deal firmly with the terrorism.Three,to ensure security to Kashmiri Hindus who faced spectre of ethnic cleansing.
Jagmohan’s task was difficult.Neither Primeminister VP Singh nor his Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed were seriously interested in dealing with d the grave situation in Kashmir.George Fernandes , a senior minister in VP Singh cabinet,was patronising elements close to National Conference and terrorist outfit JKLF.Congress was playing its own game to make the situation deteriorate further.
Security of Kashmiri Hindus
Since 1982 Kashmiri Hindus were being subjected to a campaign of vilification and hate by both National Conference as well as Jamaat Islami with ethnic cleansing as the objective.Initially, there were sporadic killings since 1986 and later targeted killings after the summer of 1989.Targets were carefully chosen and a situation created where Kashmiri Hindus were at the mercy of terrorists.Neither the administration was in a position to protect Kashmiri Hindus nor did the Central Govt. had any contingency plan to ensure security to Kashmiri Hindus. It abandoned Kashmiri Hindus to their fate. This despite extensive coverage in national dailies since October 1989 that Kashmiri Hindus faced serious security threat and in the absence of measures by State Govt. had started leaving Kashmir. More than 20000 Kashmiri Hindus had already left the valley before Jagmohan took over in January 1990.
VP Singh Govt. was quite casual in dealing with terrorism and protection of Kashmiri Pandit minority was no priority for it.In fact,some of the policy decisions of VP Singh Govt.between December 1989- February 1990, allegedly taken at the behest of HM Mufti Mohammad Syed, created a grave situation for the country and Kashmiri Hindus.These included release of 5 hardcore JKLF terrorists in exchange for Rubiya Syed,removal of BSF bunkers in Srinagar city,permission to over 2 Lakh people to go to Chrar-Sharif and allowing huge processions of secessionists to go to UN Military Observer Office.These measures emboldened terrorists and people thought secession was around the corner.Saner elements in administration either maintained a low profile or bought peace with the secessionists. Initially,Jagmohan showed resentment over these disastrous decisions by staying in Jammu for some time but was persuaded to return to Srinagar after being assured that he will be allowed to deal with the situation as he deemed fit.
Selective killings of Kashmiri Hindus increased.So did the physical intimidation and threats.Kashmiri Hindus were convinced that Govt. at the centre or in the state was in no position to prevent their killings. Leaving the valley to protect their lives was considered the best option.Each family took the decision at its own level,depending upon the threat perception. They would have revolted had Govt. stopped them from leaving.
Dealing with subversion
Jagmohan had clear idea about contours of subversion and tentacles of terrorism.He nursed no illusions that JKLF was any different from Hizbul Mujahideen or National Conference and Jamaat Islami were politically divergent.He began focused operations against terrorists.Top JKLF leadership was targeted and the back of the organisation was broken within no time.Intelligence which had dried up started coming in.This helped in taking more ruthless measures against other terrorist groups and their sympathisers.
At the same time Jagmohan took a number of measures to revamp the administration,by weeding out subversive elements and dealing with overground cells of terrorists.Semblance of administration returned.Radio Kashmir was energised to counter disinformation of subversives.By early May 1990 Jagmohan’s administration was in a clear position to take more decisive measures to eliminate terrorism.A lobby in Delhi and Srinagar began conspiring to remove him as Governor.George Fernandes was openly patronising anti-state elements to destabilise Governor.When nothing else was working a dirty campaign was started to paint Jagmohan as ‘anti-Muslim.’ Finally,inept handling of the funeral procession of Mirwaiz Farooq by then ADGP was made an excuse to remove the Governor.Many years later VP Singh confessed to Hari Jaisingh,editor of the Tribune,that somebody had to be made a scapegoat. This is how internal betrayal works in India.
Vision for Peace in Kashmir
Jagmohan believed that Indian policy in handling Kashmir was informed by ‘spirit of Munich’ and its political and administrative ethos was terrorism conducive and not terrorism repelling.To bring durable peace in Kashmir this had to change.
(The author is an Ophthalmologist based in Jammu and also contributes to Strategic affairs)
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