Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, emphasizing that the two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir aim to provide rights to those who have faced injustice, insult, and neglect. Responding to the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah highlighted the bills’ focus on offering justice to individuals compelled to become refugees in their own country.
“I am glad that throughout the whole discussion and debate over the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023, no member opposed the ‘tattva’ (substance) of the Bill,” stated Amit Shah. He underscored the crucial distinction between providing rights and doing so respectfully.
“The Bill that I have brought here pertains to bringing justice to and providing rights to those against whom injustice was done, who were insulted and those who were ignored,” Shah asserted. He emphasized the constitutional principle that deprived sections of society should be uplifted. However, he stressed the importance of doing so in a manner that preserves their respect.
“A few people also tried to underestimate it…someone said that only the name is being changed. I would like to tell all of them that if we have even a little sympathy then we need to see that respect is attached to the name,” Shah commented. He highlighted the significance of renaming the weak and deprived category to Other Backward Class to ensure respectful recognition.
Amit Shah lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s understanding of the struggles of the impoverished. “Narendra Modi is a leader who was born into a poor family and became the Prime Minister of the country today. He knows the pain of the poor,” Shah affirmed.
The first bill aims to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, changing the nomenclature from “weak and underprivileged classes (social castes)” to “other backward classes” and making consequential amendments. The second bill seeks to provide representation to “Kashmiri Migrants,” “Displaced Persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
With 29 members participating in the debate on the bills, the discussion commenced on Tuesday and is set to shape the legislative landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
*This report is based on the proceedings in the Lok Sabha on December 6, 2023.*
