PDP MLA’s bill proposing new divisions, districts in J&K faces flak from NC, BJP | India News
SRINAGAR: PDP MLA Waheed Parra’s private member’s bill, proposing to create 16 new districts in J&K and two additional divisions in Jammu, has come under fire from the NC and opposition BJP, who have questioned the intent behind the proposed legislation.The NC said the bill was a “deliberate attempt to subvert the government’s intention to mobilize public opinion and empower sub-regions”. The BJP called the proposal divisive and alleged that it was in line with Pakistan and the ISI’s designs to create a ‘greater Kashmir’.Para has submitted the Jammu and Kashmir Regional Administrative Reorganization Bill to the Assembly Secretariat, proposing new administrative divisions and districts across the union territory to “improve governance and administrative reach”.The bill calls for the creation of two new divisions in Jammu, Chenab and Pir Panjal. It proposed to create eight additional districts each in Kashmir and Jammu. Currently, J&K has two divisions, Jammu and Kashmir, with 10 districts each.The bill gained traction on social media, stirring a debate, forcing political parties to react. NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the PDP’s move to bring proposals that the government is working towards empowering the sub-regions reflects a different intention. This indicated a sabotage attempt, he alleged, as to why the Mehbooba Mufti-led party was discussing new districts and divisions despite not having the legislative power to see through the proposals.During the PDP-BJP tenure in 2016-17, similar recommendations made by an expert committee were rejected by the government. “Now when the NC government is planning to empower sub-regions, PDP is bringing such a bill to create mistrust among people,” he said, calling it a “sabotage bill”.The BJP has alleged that the proposals in the bill are in line with the agenda of the ISI. “The bill proposes two additional divisions for Jammu – one consisting of Kishtwar and Doda and the other consisting of Rajouri and Poonch. They are referring to them as Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions. We do not accept these terms. It was part of the ISI design in the 1990s to merge these Muslim majority areas with Kashmir and form Kashmir as ‘GG’. The PDP is working on the same agenda. We will not allow it,” said BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur.Pointing out that Kashmir is traditionally referred to as Maraj (South Kashmir), Kamraj (North Kashmir) and Central Kashmir, he asked: “Why don’t they make three divisions here too? Why do they want to break up Jammu only?”However, Thakur said there could be a case for creating three new districts in Kashmir and if necessary, the three existing police districts in the Valley could be upgraded to full-fledged districts.
