It is widely believed that Sher-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah tried his best to grant hill councils to Chenab Valley and the Pir Panchal region. However, communal forces in the region opposed it and he shelved the idea.
Immediately after assuming office of the Chief Minister in 1996, Dr Farooq Abdullah promised administrative autonomy to both the regions of the state. Regional Autonomy Committee (RAC) with Balraj Puri as its Working chairman was constituted to look into the viability of the model. For two years, the RAC interacted with people from remote areas of both the regions and also prepared a document. However, the report was not considered. This was the time when the Leh district was granted autonomous hill development council. A group of press men on the sidelines of a function asked Farooq why the government was reluctant to grant similar status to Chenab and Pir Panjal valleys. Dr Farooq evaded a reply but conveyed his helplessness through a sarcastic smile.
The people of Chenab Valley continued their struggle. In the year 2000, a bill was moved in the legislative assembly by the then MLA Baderwah, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, demanding a Hill Development Council for the region.
In 2006 MLA Doda Abdul Majeed Wani who later became Minister for PWD (R&B) brought a bill to establish the Doda Valley Hill Development Council. But Wani withdrew the bill on the insistence of the then chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad who said that after the creation of another district Kishtwar in the region there was no need for such a bill.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah took over the reins of the state. He promised Hill Development Council “on the pattern of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council ( Leh & Kargil) for Chenab and Pir Panjal regions.” Pertinently the total population of Ladakh is less than the population of Batmaloo and Rainawari areas of Srinagar.
A resolution seeking a Hill Council for Chenab Valley has been passed by the Legislative Council on August 19, 2009. The resolution moved by Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy had made it easier for Omar to go ahead with the plan but he did not act for reasons best known to him.
Similarly former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayed failed the people of the regions and so did Azad. Now Mahbooba Mufti has demanded hill councils for the regions for `political reasons’.
The people who have been opposing the move remained silent when Leh was given the Hill Council Status.
Siraj-ud-Din after having witnessed the political developments in the state for more than six decades is in favour of regional autonomy to all the regions. He sees no harm in grant of hill council to Chenab Valley or the Pir Panjal area.
According to him , the people who see the move as a means to change the demographic complexion of the region are mistaken.
“The demand for a hill council should not be resisted because of unfounded apprehensions of some quarters. The demand hits hard at the very concept of Jammu Pradesh which is being projected by a `street politician’ and a self styled columnist from Jammu who at times changes his gender to mislead the gullible people of the region,” he said adding hill councils shall ensure development of all the people of the region and not just a particular community.