SRINAGAR: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hinted at holding assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ‘by this year-end’.
Addressing a function here, Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the Union Territory, said the delimitation exercise was completed recently.
“Earlier, there were 83 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, where Jammu has 37 and rest in Kashmir after recently concluded delimitation number of seats has increased to 90 with Kashmir having 47 seats and Jammu 43,” news agency KNO quoted the defence minister as having said.
“By this year-end, there is a possibility that assembly elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The defence minister said that from last 70 years Jammu and Kashmir remain isolated but not the foundation of new J&K has been laid and it will stand more powerful in coming days.
Appreciating the government’s initiatives, Rajnath Singh said that for the first time GoI give due rights to the refugees. He said transits accommodations were constructed for displaced Kashmir pandits.
He further maintained that Union Government will not allow any other migrations and steps are underway to provide equal opportunities to every citizens of J&K.
Later, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh attended the 9th Executive Council and 4th General Body meeting of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS) at Pahalgam. In the presence of the Raksha Mantri and Lieutenant Governor, J&K Manoj Sinha, the meeting deliberated on the ways to ensure smooth functioning of the institute and early resolution of pending issues.
The Raksha Mantri, in his address, lauded the rigorous training standards, excellent management, devotion and technical proficiency of the trainers and instructors that have established JIM&WS as one of the leading institutes in the country. He described mountaineering and allied activities as a sign of not just physical endurance, but also of mental toughness and enthusiasm.
