In J&K, earlier delimitation was done to win elections, new delimitation gives ‘due representation to voiceless’ in Assembly: Home Minister Amit Shah

In J&K, earlier delimitation was done to win elections, new delimitation gives ‘due representation to voiceless’ in Assembly: Home Minister Amit Shah

Says for the first time 9 seats for ST community; numbers of seats raised from 107 to 114, Jammu to have 43 seats, Kashmir 47; 24 seats will continue to remain reserved; KPs left behind properties worth crores in 1990, sold houses in distress, BJP provided them cover; Takes jibe at Abdullah’s, says those who spent vacations in England are unaware of ground situation in Kashmir

Abid Bashir

New Delhi, Dec 06 (KNO): Lashing out at the Jammu and Kashmir’s political parties for having delimitation of Assembly seats at their will and wish to ensure victory, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday said new delimitation of seats done by the delimitation commission will give voice to voiceless of J&K.

Replying to the discussion on Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023 introduced by him in the Parliament on Wednesday, the Union Home Minister, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the new law will help give justice to those who were deprived of their rights for the last seven decades in J&K. “The new law will give voice to voiceless who were never heard. It will give justice to those who faced injustice and who were ignored and insulted for years together,” Shah said.

Taking a jibe at the J&K’s political parties, Shah said that earlier delimitation was done in a way to ensure victory in Assembly polls. “We appointed a delimitation commission that visited every district and met people of all shades including those from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK),” Shah said.

He said that for the first time nine seats were reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community. “Under new delimitation, the number of seats in J&K went up from 107 to 114. Jammu will have 43 seats against 37 earlier while Kashmir will have 47 against 46 earlier. Since Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to us and is ours, 24 seats will continue to remain reserved for PoK residents,” the Home Minister said.

He said that this all was possible because of the historic decision taken by the Prime Minister Narendera Modi on August 5, 2019. “First time, those who remained unheard and those who couldn’t raise their voice at any platform, will be able to make their points in the Assembly of J&K,” Shah said. About Kashmiri Pandits, he said nobody can understand the pain and agony the KPs faced in the 1990s. “They left their properties worth crores behind. BJP government provided a cover to KPs by helping them restore their properties in J&K,” he said.

Pinching Abdullah’s, Shah said those who would always spend vacations in England, can never understand the actual ground position in Kashmir. Accusing Congress for always opposing Backward Class Commission, the Home Minister in BJP’s rule, every backward class student is getting due representation in schools, colleges and universities—(KNO)