Amit Shah introduces J&K reorganisation bill
- February 13, 2021
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Introducing ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the government was working to take Jammu and Kashmir
Introducing ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the government was working to take Jammu and Kashmir on the path to development.
He said around 170 central laws are being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to the erstwhile state.
The government is implementing different development projects and schemes in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
“I request the members to pass the bill,” he added.
Raising objections on the bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked “what was the need to bring an ordinance for this?”.
He said regularly promulgating an ordinance is not good for a parliamentary democracy as an ordinance should be preceded by an emergency situation or any urgency.
Speaking in favour of the Bill, Amit Shah said the Opposition should not politicise J&K and Ladakh. “If you want a political fight, come in the ring and let’s compete. Nobody is scared. It J&K and Ladakh) is a sensitive part of our country. They have been hurt and have doubts. This House’s responsibility is to comfort them, not scrape their wounds.”
Citing results of the recently held DDC polls in J&K, the home minister said political parties who contested the election promising bringing back Article 370, have been wiped off by the people.
In August 2019, the central government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution under which J&K enjoyed certain special privileges. The government also brought in a bill that bifurcated the erstwhile state of J&K into two Union territories: J&K and Ladakh.
“I have said in this House and I say it again that this Bill has got nothing to do with the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Statehood would be given to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time,” Amit Shah said on Saturday, adding that the Bill nowhere says J&K will not get statehood.
(PTK)
