Parliament winter session: Amit Shah defends J&K bills
Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, on Wednesday, defended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023. Shah was speaking on the third day of Parliament's winter session. He asserted that there was a "huge difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully" and the proposed bill would do the latter to the deprived community.
Why does this story matter?
Both the proposed bills give reservations to the "underprivileged" and Kashmiri Pandit migrants. Speaking about the same, Shah pointed out that the aforementioned bills will provide representation to those who left the Kashmir Valley because of terrorism. Notably, the J&K National Conference (JKNC) has opposed the legislation, claiming the matter of J&K's recognition had already been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Details on bills
The J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, seeks reservations in jobs and professional institutions for socially and economically backward communities. The J&K Reorganisation Bill seeks to increase the number of seats in the J&K Legislative Assembly from 83 to 90. It also proposes to allow the lieutenant governor to nominate up to two members of migrant community—those who left Kashmir after November 1, 1989—to the assembly.
Watch: Shah addresses winter session
PoK belongs to India, reiterates Shah
During the discussion, Shah reiterated that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India. "Had Jawaharlal Nehru taken the right steps, PoK would've been part of India now; it was a historic blunder," Shah said. He pointed out that Nehru had made two blunders—first to announce a ceasefire when we were winning and creating PoK, and second to take the issue to the United Nations (UN).
Shah blames Congress for exodus
The union minister also raised the issue of the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the region. In a veiled attack on Congress, he said that those who had the onus of stopping the exodus were enjoying vacations in England. He said, "Around 46,631 families were displaced in their own country. This Bill is to get them rights and representation."
