When it is a matter of amnesty, rehabilitation or allocation of funds for the development of Jammu and the districts in Jammu division are always at the losing end.

The only thing that stood out like the proverbial sore thumb was the deafening silence of the Ministers who represent - probably misrepresent - Jammu in the cabinet.

The discrimination still continues with Jammu youths when our young and dynamic chief minister, Omar Abdullah announced amnesty for the stone pelters of the Valley ignoring the youths from Jammu who were arrested during Amarnath land agitation and are languishing in various jails. The government led by Omar is even formulating plans to facilitate the return of hundreds of youth from Kashmir division who had crossed over to that side of the border to take arms training without taking any support from Pakistan government.

It may be recalled here that nearly 196 youths are still in jails who were arrested in 2008. The matter of concern is that when Chief Minister can offer amnesty to youths from Kashmir then why not to youths from Jammu who are not criminals but just hurdled stones because their religious sentiments were hurt.

On August 31, 2008, the 61-day-old agitation in the Jammu region over the Amarnath land row ended following the signing of an agreement between the group leading the agitation and the Jammu and Kashmir Governor-appointed panel.

Interestingly, at the time of signing this agreement, the government agreed to withdraw all the cases registered against the youths during agitation but backtracked from the same and hundreds of youths are still in jails.     

But the things are clear that Kashmir lobby, whosoever is leading, hardly matters but will care for Kashmir and its people only, leaving others at the losing end. Jammu-based Cabinet ministers who seem to have turned blind and dumb did not utter a single word nor did they raise any question about discrimination for reasons best known to them. BJP, who gained most from this agitation and won 11 seats, even not uttered a single word in the assembly for the release of these innocent youths.

When the government of the day can bring back militants, give amnesty to those damaged government property worth crores, then why cannot it release these youths…is a million dolor question…? The answer is simple just because they are from Jammu province and there is none to raise voice for them….!

Leaving behind all, Omar who before taking over as CM promised equal development and justice with the people of all the three regions again carried forward the agenda of his predecessors, paying more attention to the Valley ignoring Jammu.

Why the government cannot release these youths, Omar has to answer if he is really committed to provide justice to all.

The see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil adage has been given a new twist by the members of the cabinet, who represent Jammu and its districts. Presumably, the ministers have realised that their obligation to Jammu is limited to mouthing platitudes during elections and keeping quiet once elected.

Likewise, Jammu-based Cabinet ministers and our so-called well wishers and representatives are equally answerable as to why they always keep silent while sitting in the corridors of power when the Kashmiri leadership discriminates against the interests of Jammu. Do they keep silent to save their chair, for which they contest elections?