Srinagar, Dec 05: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday discussed The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), both the bills were moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself.
While The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act- 2023 reserves three seats in the Legislative Assembly of J&K Union Territory for migrants and refugees, the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act-2023 rechristens the “other social castes” as “other backward class” who are entitled to reservation in J&K.
As discussion on the bills started, Union Home Minister took strong exception to TMC MP Prof. Saugata Roy’s statement that “Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan and EK Vidhan” was a political slogan.
Shah said there cannot be two PMs, two constitutions and two flags in the country.
“How can the country have two PMs, two constitutions and two flags? We have been saying since 1950 that there should be “Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan and Ek Vidhan” in the country and we did it,” Shah said.
Speaking on the occasion, TMC MP Prof. Saugta Roy said that “nothing can be done in Kashmir unless you hold elections”.
“For 10 years, there has been no election,” he said, adding that Jammu & Kashmir should be ruled by its people.
National Conference Member Parliament Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi questioned the amendments being brought in the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
“How can you bring amendments when the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act is under judicial scrutiny? The judgment (challenging Article 370 and Reorganisation Act) is pending in the Supreme Court,” Masoodi said.
He said that why elections are not being held in Jammu & Kashmir for the past six years.
“If everything is alright, why couldn’t you take G-20 delegates to Dachimarg and Gulmarg,” he said—(KNO)
