SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the holding of Assembly elections in JK before September 30, 2024, will be followed in letter and spirit. He also stated that Paharis would receive reservations shortly, The Excelsior reported.
Speaking at ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’ Sinha said the debate on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India which granted special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has ended with the Supreme Court decision.
“The decision taken by the Government of India has been endorsed by the Apex Court. The country as well as Jammu and Kashmir has accepted the verdict. The debate (on abrogation of Article 370) should rest now,’’ he added.
He added that there has been 350 percent increase in arrival of foreign tourists in the Valley and number of domestic tourists this year has crossed two crore benefitting everyone connected with tourism sector in the UT.
In response to a question about the Supreme Court-imposed deadline for the Assembly elections, he stated that on August 5, 2019, the day special status was removed, Home Minister Amit Shah had declared in Parliament that J&K will establish a Delimitation Commission, hold elections, and then restore Statehood to the proper degree. The Prime Minister had also spoken to the country and made a comparable claim.
“After delimitation of constituencies and revision of voter lists, the Election Commission has stated that process has started. The Solicitor General in an affidavit in the Apex Court had also assured elections and restoration of Statehood. The Supreme Court order will be implemented in letter and spirit,’’ the Lieutenant Governor said.
He announced that the Paharis are going to get reservation soon. “It may be mentioned here that a bill to grant ST status to Paharis was introduced in Lok Sabha in Monsoon session of the Parliament in July this year and it was pending there.”
The Pakistani refugees, Gorkhas etc settled in Jammu and Kashmir for last 75 feel empowered following abrogation of Article 370 and Kashmiri Pandits have been given political reservation. Wherever they (the KPs) live, they can get domicile certificate of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
“PoJK and West Pakistani were given Rs 5.5 lakh compensation. OBCs, Dalits have been given reservation in jobs and education. New castes have been added as OBCs. Nine seats have been reserved in the Assembly for STs. Paharis are going to get reservation soon. It was after 34 years that Shias took out Muharram procession in Srinagar,’’ Sinha said as quoted by Excelsior.
