JKPC president Sajad Lone revives demand for Kashmir–Jammu split

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) president and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday called for a “profound and uncompromising reassessment of the Kashmir–Jammu relationship” and openly advocated the possibility of their separation.

Lone, one of the few Kashmiri leaders to publicly propose a split between Kashmir and Jammu, was responding to recent remarks by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who opposed any further division of the Union Territory.

“Farooq Sahib is our elder. I hold him in the highest respect before God, and he is very dear to me. But politically, I am in complete opposition to him,” Lone said.

Questioning Kashmir’s role in upholding what he termed a disproportionate moral burden, Lone said, “India has a population of 1.5 billion. We are barely six or seven million. Aren’t we speaking far beyond our weight? Did we ever sign a contract to safeguard secularism?” He argued that while Kashmiri leaders often claim the moral high ground of secularism, Kashmiri students continue to be beaten, humiliated and targeted across the country.

He said Kashmiris have never consented to bear this burden and that repeated attacks on Kashmiri students and shawl sellers in mainland India expose the hypocrisy behind lofty claims of secular unity used to justify keeping Jammu and Kashmir together.

The JKPC president also accused reservation policies of systematically draining job opportunities from Kashmir and redirecting them to Jammu.

“All these jobs that are being diverted to Jammu through reservations — who will pay the price? Who will absorb this loss?” he asked, before adding, “Will the Kashmiri youth pay it? And for what crime?”

Lone recalled that the introduction of 30 per cent reservations in 2007 and the dismantling of District and Divisional cadres in 2010 resulted in the transfer of thousands of jobs that, he said, rightfully belonged to Kashmir, to Jammu.

He further pointed out that Kashmiri Muslims remain on the frontlines in the fight against militancy, claiming that nearly 90 per cent of police martyrs are Kashmiri Muslims, yet solidarity from Jammu or support from the Centre is largely absent at such moments. He also said that while Kashmiri youths face violence across India, the persistent campaign of hatred emanating from Jammu — including calls to “kill them, crush them, finish them” — contributes to the hostile environment Kashmiris encounter nationwide.

Lone also criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for spending 22 of the last 30 days outside Kashmir, questioning his sense of responsibility. “You can leave anytime. You do not pay the price. The people do,” he remarked.

Addressing what he described as a deepening economic imbalance, Lone argued that Jammu’s economy survives on Kashmir and Kashmiri labour, yet continues to display arrogance, with major development projects being routed towards Jammu at Kashmir’s expense.

Urging people to abandon what he called recycled narratives, Lone said even ordinary Kashmiris are now beginning to calculate how much they have lost by remaining tied to Jammu.

“I pray to God that separation becomes possible. It would be a true liberation,” he said, adding, “But beware — the big crocodiles will invent new stories tomorrow. Still, despite everything, we hope this comes to pass.”