SRINAGAR: The ongoing delimitation process has led to more demands from different quarters for representation in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.
Jammu Muslim Front has sought reservation of assembly seats for Muslims in five districts where they lack political representation.
“Helpless Muslims should be given representation in Udhampur, Jammu, Reasi, Samba and Kathua districts keeping (in view) as they continue to remain neglected and unrepresented,” said the JMF statement adding that they have remained neglected for 70 years. “We have voted for the political parties but they have failed to come up to the expectation. The marginalized section of Muslims in Jammu plains should be given political reservation in future Assembly Constituency of the Union Territory.”
Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal has asked the delimitation commission to factor in the views of Buddhists and other minorities, who reside in Jammu and Kashmir. He specially referred to “around 3,000 Buddhists” who live in Kishtwar.
“During the recent visit of the delimitation commission to Jammu and Kashmir, the Buddhist population was unable to meet the panel members,” Jamyang Namgyal was quoted saying. “We do hope the commission will factor in the views of the Buddhists and other minorities of J&K, and find a way to do that.”
While paying tributes to Begum Abdullah at a function in Jammu, NC leader Devinder Singh Rana strongly pitching for women reservation in the assembly.
“Political empowerment of women will be a befitting tribute to Madr-e-Meharban Begum Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who all her life strived for their socio-economic emancipation”, Rana was quoted saying. He said women constitute almost half of the state population and they cannot be deprived of their legitimate rights in governance.
Women in Jammu and Kashmir have 33 per cent reservation in civic bodies and half of the seats in the medical colleges. In Jammu and Kashmir assembly, two seats were reserved for women throughout but they lacked the right to vote.
