In what can be seen as a counter narrative to demand of separate state status for Jammu, J&K PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti is demanding separate divisional status for the Pir Panjal (Rajouri, Poonch) and Chenab Valley (Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban) regions in Jammu & Kashmir for better administration, governance. This demand has been refuted by the J&K NC counterpart Dr Farooq Abdullah who contends further divisions of J&K are ‘unacceptable’.
Calling for creation of new administrative units, Mufti said that new districts are urgently required in hilly areas such as Rajouri and Poonch to ease the difficulties faced by people in accessing government services. Even as while raising this demand, Mehbooba Mufti has sought better access to services, citing long distances to current divisional headquarters and addressing local issues like unemployment, tourism, and healthcare, clarifying it's an administrative reform, not a call for division, this is being seen as a political reaction to recent such calls for Jammu.
However, this has drawn mixed reactions, including rejection from NC leader Farooq Abdullah. Abdullah outrightly rejected the proposal, stating that there are already enough districts in Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that some people are attempting to revive ideas similar to the Dixon Plan to divide the region, which, he said, would never be acceptable.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday chaired a public interaction programme titled ‘Gal Baat’ in Rajouri, during which she addressed a wide range of political, administrative and developmental issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mufti said that the people of J&K continue to feel distressed due to the prevailing situation since 2019. She stressed the need for administrative reforms to strengthen governance, particularly in remote and hilly regions.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday asserted that Ladakh will sooner or later become a part of Jammu and Kashmir again, stating that people in the region are now repenting the decision taken in 2019.Talking to reporters in Jammu, Abdullah said the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh has led to widespread dissatisfaction among its people, who, according to him, are now expressing their desire to be reintegrated with Jammu and Kashmir. He said voices from Ladakh are increasingly saying that they want to be part of Jammu and Kashmir once again.
Commenting on demands for separate statehood for Jammu, Abdullah said those raising such demands lack insight and understanding of the ground realities. He cautioned that dividing regions on political lines would only weaken the overall fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
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