Srinagar, Jan 18 : Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu on Sunday said that a separation of Jammu from Kashmir would be beneficial for Kashmir, asserting that the idea of a “united” Jammu and Kashmir had no historical, cultural or linguistic basis.
In an interview with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mattu said the political arrangement between the two regions originated from the Treaty of Amritsar, which he described as an unjust agreement that Kashmiris never accepted.
He said Kashmir had borne the brunt of decades of unrest, losing thousands of lives, while Jammu received sympathy and concessions during the same period.
Mattu alleged that government policies over the years had disproportionately favoured Jammu, particularly in reservation policies and access to opportunities. He said the current reservation framework primarily benefited communities in Jammu, while Kashmiri Muslims were being pushed out of professional and economic spaces.
According to Mattu, shrinking opportunities for Kashmiri youth and entrepreneurs reflected what he described as collective political punishment. He said the future for the next generation in Kashmir appeared increasingly uncertain.
Commenting on proposals to create a separate Jammu state, Mattu said such a move would not harm Kashmir. “If it happens, it would be a favour for Kashmir rather than a loss,” he said, adding that the idea of a united Jammu and Kashmir was unrealistic.
He said regional differences between Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh were deeper than commonly acknowledged and questioned the expectation that Kashmiris should continue to prove their nationalism.
Mattu urged political leaders to acknowledge the divide and move beyond rhetoric. He said delaying political decisions would only worsen the situation.(KNS)
