By: Minya Tufail, Asstt. Bureau Chief, ICN J&K
Article 370 is a temporary provision: HM
Lok Sabha on Friday gave a nod to extend President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for six more months starting from July, 03 after Home Minister Amit Shah introduced bill in the house.
Shah reiterated that Assembly elections in J&K will be held in a transparent manner once Election Commission of India decides the schedule of polls.
The Lok Sabha also cleared the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by the previous government.
Moving a statutory resolution to extend President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months, Shah said since the State Assembly has been dissolved and the Election Commission has decided to hold fresh elections in the state later this year, it is essential that President’s Rule be extended for another six months with effect from July 03, 2019.
Shah said, “ Our government is committed and serious in restoring the democracy in the state”. He added that, “ terrorism will be eliminated in the valley from its base”.
On the objections raised by MP from Anantnag, Husnain Masoodi , on the statutory bill and Article 370, Shah informed the house that article 370 is a temporary provision. In his reply Shah said, “ Hussnain sahab talked about article 370. We know article 370 is there in the constitution but Hussain forgot to complete the sentence that article 370 is a temporary provision in the constitution.”
He added that the stand of his party is clear on 370. It did not change with time and is same as it was before.
Shah said in the past decade, never-ever elections have been conducted during the current season as there was the month of Ramazan (May 07-June 04). Amarnath Yatra is coming from June 30 to August 15 and the Bakarwal community also moves to higher reaches during this time and returns only in October.
He also said that this is not the first time when Governor’s or President’s rule was imposed on the state.
Earlier Governor’s and President’s rule was imposed seven and two times respectively.
The minister said that in the last one year, the government has followed “zero tolerance towards “terrorism and all steps have been taken to hit the root of terrorism”.
Further he said Panchayat elections were not happening in the state, but it was conducted during this period.
The government has also directly transferred Rs 700 crore in bank accounts for “panchs and sarpanchs” and more would be transferred for development.
The Home minister also moved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by the previous government.
People living along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir will get benefits of reservation in direct recruitment, promotion and admission in professional courses on par with those living along the Actual Line of Control (ALoC), according to the bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Shah said that as per law, 43 percent reservation is available in the state and under this 3 percent is for people living along the LoC. The bill provides to extend reservation under this 3 percent to people living along the International Border (IB) in the state.
He said that due to “ceasefire violations by the neighbouring country”, people particularly students living along the LoC and IB face problems.
“This reservation is not to please anybody,” he said adding due to bombardments people are forced to stay in shelters and students stay away from schools.
“This will help 3.5 lakh people living in Kathua, Samba and Jammu,” he said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling the extension of President’s rule in J&K as “Unacceptable”. In a tweet he wrote, “So the Home Minister’s argument is that because the Congress has used Article 356 more times than anyone else the Modi government is justified in denying the people of J&K an elected government. That’s an unacceptable argument.”
It’s pertinent to mention here that the J&K state is reeling under President’s rule after the BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti led government in June , 2018. Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved assembly in November last year and since then the President’s rule being imposed in the state.
