Srinagar, Dec 06 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, presented by the Union government in Parliament, have the primary objective of delivering justice to people who have been denied their rights for more than 70 years while the two bills also aim to offer representation to those who had to depart from Kashmir due to terrorism.
During the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Shah directly confronted the Congress, though without explicitly naming the party. He said, “The avoidance of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits could have been achieved if terrorism had been addressed without succumbing to vote-bank politics.”
In defence of the bills, Shah stated, “These two pieces of legislation will ensure representation for those compelled to leave Kashmir due to terrorism.”
“One seat in the Kashmir assembly will be reserved for those displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Also, one of the two bills will nominate two individuals from the Kashmiri migrant community to the assembly,” he said.
“When they (Kashmiri Pandits) were displaced, they were forced to live as refugees in their country. Around 46,631 families were displaced in their own country. This Bill is to get them rights, this Bill is to give them representation,” he added.
“Had terrorism been tackled at the beginning without considering vote-bank politics, Kashmiri Pandits wouldn’t have had to leave the valley.” Shah further stated, “Those responsible for stopping the exodus were enjoying vacations in England.”
“In the aftermath of the 1980s, a period of terrorism unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir, creating a harrowing reality. Those who considered the land their homeland faced forced displacement, and their plight went unnoticed, with no efforts made to halt it.
Ironically, those entrusted with the responsibility to intervene were found enjoying leisure in England,” he added.
Introduced on July 26, 2023, in the Lok Sabha, the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to modify the reservation act of the union territory.
This legislation endeavours to extend reservations in employment and educational institutions to individuals belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes, he added.
