Jammu, May 25
The political temperature in J&K has suddenly risen since the report of three interlocutors was released on Thursday. There are strong anti-report voices, some even terming it as a step towards state’s disintegration.

Neither Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reacted nor have the Muftis of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party. It is clear each side is waiting for the other to react first in order to score some brownie points on the language used.

This is the first sign of a rise in temperature in the political landscape, some of which was visible in the protests in Jammu as well as the common Kashmiris, some of whom felt the report was hinting more or less at the physical and psychological division of the state.

The Jammu-centric parties were apprehensive over the interlocutors’ suggestion that the Central laws extended to the state post-1953 be examined by a constitutional panel.

In the sensitive border state, where each word is interpreted in more than one way, these protests and a plethora of statements condemning the report signify more than what meets the eye.

“It (the report) is a clear attempt to change the course of history,” said Harshdev Singh, senior leader of the J&K National Panthers Party. His party champions the cause of Jammu and is against restoring greater autonomy to the state.

In Kashmir, a feeling somehow has gone around that the balance is tilted towards the two regions—Jammu and Ladakh. The CM has gone into a mulling mode, telling the media and others who follow him on the micro-blogging site Twitter that he “will take a few days to examine the report, discuss it with senior colleagues & then react.” He counseled patience to all.

Not long ago, Omar asked for the early release of the interlocutors’ report and implementation of its recommendations. As the report suggests high-power regional councils for three regions — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with legislative and executive powers — it is being read as a design to divide the state. The report also comes at a time when the tourist season is peaking. Any “wrong word” can ignite the situation.

Aware of the fallout from an off-the-cuff reaction, the Chief Minister is walking the lane of silence at the moment. Sources say if he supports the report, he would have to do it in totality, and if he condemns it, then he would be seen as the one who is deviating from the path of autonomy. The moment he speaks -- for or against – he’d risk a political storm.

A glimpse of that came when NC’s additional general secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said: “The NC would not allow division of the state.” The timing and the words dropped clear hints of what lies ahead.