Jammu: In the absence of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, the renaming of historic chowks and institutions in Jammu has begun. In a surprise move by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), three chowks have been renamed during the general house meetings held recently.
The came as a surprise for many, as the economy in Jammu has been on a nosedive since the August 5 decision last year to revoke the region’s special status and reduce the state to a Union Territory. The tourism, big industry and transport sectors have been in a crisis, while there has also been a lack of job opportunities. In such a scenario, the administration’s decision to rename places, a move which had hardly any public demand, has not gone down well.
Even as BJP leaders insisted that there was popular demand to rename the historic City Chowk in Jammu as ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’, the local business community of Kanak Mandi and Raghunath Bazaar have questioned the intention behind the move.
Residents only came to know about the renaming of City Chowk when they saw a signboard with “Bharat Mata Chowk” planted at the chowk. It then became the talk of the town. Shopkeepers at the chowk – a central business hub for decades – have alleged that the BJP did not consult them before changing the name.
Sources within the BJP unit of Jammu and Kashmir that there was infighting between two leaders – including former legislator – to claim more influence in the area. “Often, these leaders published psoters opposing the other, even though they were from the same party,” said BJP sources.
In two General House Meetings of the JMC, BJP’s corporator Narotam Sharma also moved resolutions to rename Jammu University as “Maharaja Ghulab Singh Jammu University” and Jammu Airport as “Maharaja Hari Singh Airport.”
The resolutions were moved in view of the popularity of the Dogra rulers in Jammu. The resolutions were, therefore, passed unanimously, with the ruling corporators receiving the support of independent and Congress leaders.
In the same manner, Circular Road-Panjtirthi Chowk in Jammu Old City has also been renamed as “Atal Ji Chowk”. Plans to instal a statue of former prime minister A.B. Vajpayee at the chowk are also afoot.
The newly rechristened Atal Ji Chow. Photo: Nasir Ali
BJP leaders in the JMC have also claimed that proposals to rename Bhagwati Nagar as “Baba Amarnath Ji Nagar” are also being considered. Sources claimed that the BJP leaders are also looking to rename other places like Kunjwani Chowk on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway. This chowk has become embroiled in controversary as some local leaders want it to be renamed. Kunjwani is named after a Sufi Saint’s name, whose ziyarat is located alongside the highway.
Resolution against custodian department
Sharma, the BJP’s corporator from the Old Jammu City, was also able to pass a resolution against the custodian department, which was set up to protect the properties of those Muslims who had migrated to Pakistan during Partition. Since many people have occupied these houses or have been allotted them, the Hindu belt often demands the government to abolish the custodian department and given ownership rights to those living in the properties.
Hence, Sharma’s resolution was also passed with support from all parties, demanding the abolition of the department and handing over the property rights to occupants. Most of the properties in Old Jammu City, and adjoining districts like Samba, Kathua, RS Pura (along the international border in Jammu District) are being occupied by the non-Muslims.
“These properties belong to the Muslims who fled to Pakistan or were killed in 1947. And the occupants of a majority of these houses in the Old City of Jammu district belong to the majority community of the Jammu plains,” claimed one official from the department, on the basis of anonymity.
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Apart from the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, the two regional parties of the erstwhile J&K state, leaders of national parties such as the BJP and Congress from these areas have openly supported providing property rights to the occupants.
One BJP leader said because of the custodian department, people are forced to seek prior permission for any type of construction or repair work. This has led to their harassment, and there is a dire need to end the department’s “control” so that people have rights to the properties, they have been living in, the leader said.