LS-LD JK PREZ RULE

Restoring democracy, eliminating terror from J&K top priority
of govt: Shah
    New Delhi, June 28 (PTI) Restoring democracy and
eliminating terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir are the top
priorities of the government, Home Minister Amit Shah Friday
said in the Lok Sabha.
    Moving a statutory resolution to extend President's Rule
in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months, he 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 3, 2019.
    "I want to state this clearly that restoring democracy is
the top priority of the BJP-led government" and the government
is serious about this, he said.
    He added, "We are committed to eliminating terrorism
from its root in the state".
    He said that given the current situation of the state, it
is fundamental to extend the President's rule.
    Shah said in the past decade, never-ever elections have
been conducted during the current season as there was the
month of Ramzan (May 7-June 4). 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.
    As the Election Commission has decided to conduct
Elections at the end of the year, now it is mandatory to
extend the President's rule, he said.
    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 transfered Rs 700 crore
in bank accounts for "panch and sarpanch" and more would be
transferred for development.
    There was always bloodshed in elections in the state and
this time elections took place for 40,000 posts and there were
no death reports, Shah said.
    "Voting percentage has increased and law and order
situation is under control," he said, adding for the first
time people of Jammu and Ladakh are realising they are a part
of the state.
    He said the government has resolved most of the issues of
the state such as matters related to immigrants of PoK and
West Pakistan.
    Now the government is also providing compensation to
people if their cattle dies, he said adding the government is
valuing lives of every single person living on the border.
    He also said the government will construct 15,000
bunkers within a fixed time period.
    The Home Minister urged members to rise above party lines
and pass the resolution.
     This is the first proposal Shah has moved in the Lok
Sabha after being appointed as the home minister in the second
tenure of the Narendra Modi government.
    Talking about the background for imposing Governor's and
President Rule's, he said as no political party came forward
to prove majority in the legislature last year in June after
the BJP rolled back its support from the PDP, Governor's rule
was imposed on June 2018 and the state assembly was kept in
suspended animation.
    Governor Satypal Malik on November 21, 2018 dissolve the
87-member assembly after the PDP supported by the Congress and
their arch rival National Conference staked claim to form the
government. The governor had dissolve the assembly citing
horse trading and lack of stability to form the government.
    On December 20, 2018 President's rule was imposed.
    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 per cent reservation is
available in the state and under this 3 per cent is for people
living along the LoC. The bill provides to extend reservation
under this 3 per cent 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.
    The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019,
will replace an ordinance issued by the previous government.
The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home G
Kishan Reddy on behalf of Home Minister Shah.
Some members from the opposition wanted to oppose
introduction of the bill but Speaker Om Birla rejected their
demand, saying they had not followed the procedure for doing
so.
    The bill seeks to provide relief to people living in
areas adjoining the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
They can now avail benefits of reservation in direct
recruitment, promotion and admission in different professional
courses.
The Bill once passed by Parliament will amend the Jammu
and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 to bring persons residing in
areas adjoining the IB within the ambit of reservation, on par
with those living in areas adjoining the ALoC.
People living in areas adjoining the IB in Jammu and
Kashmir were not included in the ambit of the Jammu and
Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 and Rules, 2005.
    The rules provided for reservation in direct recruitment,
promotions and admission in different professional courses to
various categories, including residents of areas adjoining
ALoC. Thus, those living in areas adjoining the IB in Jammu
and Kashmir were not getting these benefits for a long time.
Due to continuous cross-border tensions, persons living
along the IB suffer from socio-economic and educational
backwardness.
Shelling from across the border often compels residents
to move to safer places, which adversely impacts their
education as schools and colleges remain closed for long
periods.
    The House decided to take up the resolution on extension
of President's Rule as well as the reservation bill together.
Initially it was opposed by the Congress, but the home
minister said it will save time if the House took up the two
together.
    RSP's N K Premachandran strongly opposed the resolution
but supported the content of the reservation bill.
    Describing the Jammu and Kashmir's Governor decision to
dissolve the state assembly as 'arbitrary', he said the right
to form an alternative government was not given.
    Premchandaran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is
advocating for simultaneous state assembly and Lok Sabha polls
in the country then why assembly polls were not held along
with general elections in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI RR JTR NAB
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)