Sumit Hakhoo
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 2
While students from Leh studying in Jammu are upbeat about Ladakh division getting a status of a Union Territory, those from Kargil feel that New Delhi is undermining their aspirations.
Nearly 4,000 students from Kargil, now a part of Ladakh UT, are studying in Jammu. Bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two separate centrally administered units post August 5, when Reorganisation Bill was passed by Parliament, is mostly seen as detrimental to the identity of Shia majority in Kargil district.
“Change of state’s status has confused us. We are studying in Jammu for the last two years, but now we belong to a separate UT. We don’t know if we should study here or move back to Ladakh, where educational infrastructure is very poor,” said Nisar Hussain, a student of class XII.
Amongst the many people The Tribune spoke to, a majority of them were unhappy with the way the ruling BJP government at the Centre has fiddled with Article 370. They allege that when it comes to development projects, the government is focusing on Buddhist majority in Leh district.
“The Central Government is awarding majority of the projects to Leh, with 100-bed Sowa-Rigpa, a national-level hospital, to GMC. However, Kargil has been ignored. Discrimination continues and we don’t see any change,” said Abid Hussain who is preparing to make a future in the banking sector.
Youngsters from Kargil say they are culturally closer to Srinagar and division of J&K will further marginalise youth in regions, which share Line of Control with Pakistan.
With University of Kashmir slated to lose control over its two satellite campuses in Leh and Kargil district, Ladakh will have separate universities. “Those pursuing studies in Jammu and Srinagar are apprehensive about their future. Our families are quite worried how things will change in the coming years” said Munavar Hussain, a class XI student.
‘Can't compete with others’
With J&K State Service Commission we had a chance to enter bureaucracy, but now we will have to clear UPSC to become a civil servant. With limited facilities and exposure, we cannot compete with candidates from other states. Aijaz Hussain, law student in Jammu
‘We don't see any change’
The Central Government is awarding majority of the projects to Leh, with 100-bed Sowa-Rigpa, a national-level hospital, to GMC. However, Kargil has been ignored. Discrimination continues and we don't see any change. Abid Hussain, preparing for banking sector