Home Minister in LS: J&K will get statehood at the right time

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress party for abandoning Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years and now questioning the Modi government.

Amit-Shah Statehood-To-Jammu-And-Kashmir Jammu-and-Kashmir-Reorganisation-Amendment-Bill

Addressing the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill of 2021 in Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that J&K will get the statehood "at an appropriate time". 

Replying to claims that the act that was passed in 2019 which separates the former states into two union territories after article 370 was revoked - the Centre had no intentions to return the statehood, to which Shah furiously said, "Many MPs said that bringing the bill means that the union territory would not get statehood. I am piloting the Bill, I brought it. I have clarified my intentions."

"Nowhere is it written that Jammu and Kashmir would not get statehood. Where are you concluding from? 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 the UT at an appropriate time," he added.

On Monday, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad "You (Mr Shah) had promised that statehood will be restored. But this bill creates suspicion the government wants to keep J&K as a union territory."

The Centre in 2019, August had revoked article 370 that gave J&K state a special status and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Shah slammed the opposition - particularly Congress party for questioning Modi government and asked for the account of work it did for J&K in 70 years. 

“I have no objection, I will give an account for everything. But those who were allowed to govern for generations should look within if they are even fit to demand an account," the minister said.

Shah further added, "We were asked what we did about promises made during abrogation of Article 370. It has been 17 months since the abrogation and you are demanding an account for it. Did you bring the account of what you did for 70 years? Had you worked properly, you need not have asked us.”

Pointing out the first conduction of local body elections since the state was made into two divided into two union territories had seen 51% turnout that took place in November last year. 

Also Read: Dalits converting to Islam or Christianity will not get quota: Ravi Shankar in LS

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021was introduced by the Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha on February 4 to replace Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to the new bill Jammu and Kashmir cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory (AGMUT), will all be merged. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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