J&K budget discussion leads to heated arguments in Lok Sabha

A discussion on Jammu and Kashmir budget in Lok Sabha witnessed heated arguments on the overall security situation and the detention of prominent political leaders in the region.

During the discussion on supplementary demands for grantsfor the union territory of J&K, opposition party members weighed in on thedevelopments since August when the Narendra Modi government announcedreorganization of the erstwhile state into two territories under direct centralrule.

   

Jitendra Singh, minister of state in PMO, countered theopposition charges about restrictions on internet usage in the territory andgave details about administrative changes positively impacting its economy.

Sougata Ray, All India Trinamool Congress lawmaker from WestBengal, said the situation in J&K was “worse than an internalemergency”.

He alleged that “thousands of people” have been arrested inJammu & Kashmir under public safety and other provisions. “The calm (in theregion) is deceptive. People are angry and silent. One doesn’t know what shapeit will take. People of valley will bear the burden. There is no politicalactivity. The Centre is happy but people are humiliated,” said Ray.

“I demand an immediate release of (former chief ministers)Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti… I demand that a date be set for holdingassembly elections in J&K,” said Ray.

A Raja of DMK said the discussion on J&K budget in theParliament was only ceremonial and “lacked its true spirit” as the discussionwas not being done by Kashmiris. “A state cannot be prosperous unless socialharmony is maintained. Today, the foremost question in the mind is whether thebudgetary support is a substantial amount? Whether people of J&K will beable to receive it? I do not think so,” said Raja.

The government sought to assure the House that statehoodwill be restored to J&K in due course. Jitendra Singh said union homeminister Amit Shah has assured that when the opportune time comes, the statusof will be restored.

Singh said the decision to reorganize the erstwhile statewas taken after due diligence and that the results were visible within 48hours, including the reduction in prices of commodities such as cement. Theminister argued that the current administration does not believe in taking anyalibi about the situation in the state and that people are detained forsecurity reasons. Singh said currently there are only over 300 people underdetention, which he said was the lowest in 30 years.

Singh said that 40,000 people have died in the last 30 yearsin Jammu & Kashmir but many politicians were only worried about a fewfamilies. Singh argued that only mobile internet was suspended in the regionand that “even during the worst phase starting August 2019 till recently,broadband was working”.

“Mobile internet was closed because when militants arechased, they use internet to find their coordinates,” said Singh. He alsosaid that the central government had conducted a novel experiment in the stateof procuring apples from apple growers directly and making payments to themthrough direct benefit transfers.

“We follow the policy of justice to all and appeasement tonone,” Singh said, arguing that J&K is showing improvement in Goodsand Services Tax (GST) collections and excise duty collections. The ministeralso said state government projects are now awarded transparently throughe-tendering.

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