Lok Sabha gives nod to Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation, reservation (amendment) bills

The Lok Sabha recently approved two significant bills concerning Jammu and Kashmir. The first is the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, aiming to appoint two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly. The second is the J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, focused on altering the classification of individuals eligible for quota in appointments and admissions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a spirited reply after over six hours of debate spanning two days, emphasized the bills’ importance. He stated that these measures would address the rights deprivation endured by certain groups in J&K for the past 70 years. Shah particularly highlighted that providing reservation to displaced people would empower them by ensuring representation in the legislative assembly.

Shah delved into the historical context, blaming the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for two major blunders related to J&K. According to Shah, Nehru’s decision to announce a ceasefire and then take the Kashmir issue to the United Nations were historic mistakes. He asserted that if Nehru had taken different actions, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would now be a part of India. Shah’s remarks aimed to contextualize the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir within the broader historical narrative.

The home minister also revealed a strategic plan to eradicate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He disclosed that a three-year initiative has been in progress, with the goal of achieving zero terror incidents by 2026. Shah expressed confidence that this plan would successfully eliminate violence from the region, outlining a vision for a more stable and secure Jammu and Kashmir in the coming years.

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