Pir Panjal Row in Jammu & Kashmir Sparks Assembly Uproar

New Delhi: A heated controversy has erupted in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly over the existence and recognition of the Pir Panjal region, triggering a political storm between the BJP and opposition parties National Conference and Congress.

The dispute centers on Rajouri-Poonch districts being referred to as the Pir Panjal region and Ramban-Doda-Kishtwar districts as the Chenab region. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma triggered the uproar when he questioned the legitimacy of the Pir Panjal region, remarking, “I do not know which area is being referred to as Pir Panjal.” His statement drew immediate protests in the Assembly. BJP legislators claimed that there is no separate Pir Panjal area and accused regional parties of attempting to divide the region politically, while Congress demanded an apology from Sharma.

The controversy reportedly followed a demand by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti to create a separate administrative division combining Rajouri, Poonch, and the Chenab Valley districts, citing remote locations, hilly terrain, and lack of basic infrastructure.

Geography and History of Pir Panjal:
The Pir Panjal range is part of the lower Himalayas in northern India, stretching between the Beas and Neelum-Kishanganga rivers from southeast to northwest. It spans Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, with its northwestern edge extending into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The range feeds major rivers including Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab. Historically, the name ‘Pir Panjal’ originates from the Pir Panjal Pass, referenced in the 12th-century chronicle Rajtarangini by Kashmiri poet Kalhan. Scholars suggest that with the region’s Islamization, the concept of deities may have been replaced by the notion of Pirs, giving the range its current name.

Local Sentiments:
Representatives from Rajouri and Poonch protested Sharma’s remarks, joined by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Forest Minister Javed Rana, both from the region. Independent MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan emphasized that Sharma’s comments hurt public sentiment, stating, “This is not only an insult to Pir Panjal but also to Kishtwar and Doda in the Chenab Valley. Our border communities have sacrificed lives, including 16 martyrs from Poonch during Operation Sindoor. Such statements dishonor their sacrifices.”

The political row highlights growing tensions over regional identity, administrative recognition, and local development in the strategically sensitive and hilly districts of Jammu & Kashmir.