Parliament on Monday gave its approval for extending President’s rule in J&K for another six months from July 3, with Rajya Sabha passing a resolution in this regard.
The upper house of Parliament also passed the bill amendingJ&K Reservation Act, 2004. Both, moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah,had been passed by Lok Sabha on Friday.
Earlier Shah said the Centre had no option but to extend thePresident’s rule for six months in J&K as the Election Commission intendsto hold assembly polls there towards the end of the year.
With the opposition questioning the delay in holdingassembly polls, Shah said assembly elections were never conducted in the pastin the state during the month of Ramadhan, which was from May 7 to June 4 thisyear.
He also cited Amarnath Yatra from June 30 to August 15 andsaid Bakarwal community also moves to higher reaches during this time andreturns only in October.
The Home Minister also moved Jammu and Kashmir Reservation(Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by the previousgovernment.
People living along the International Border (IB) in J&Kwill get benefits of reservation in direct recruitment, promotion and admissionin professional courses on a par with those living along the Actual Line ofControl (ALoC).
The minister said that reservation will benefit about 3.5lakh people living in 435 villages of the three districts — Kathua, Samba andJammu.
The amendment bill has already got approval of Lok Sabha.
The bill once passed by Parliament will amend the Jammu andKashmir Reservation Act, 2004 to bring persons residing in areas adjoining theIB within the ambit of reservation, on a par with those living in areasadjoining the Actual Line of Contro (ALoC).