Communication blockade to continue in J&K, BJP proposes reduction of assembly tenure to 5 yrs

Wahid Bhat | Srinagar

Over a month after the centre modified Article 370 to remove the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has proposed that the tenure of the J&K Legislative Assembly be reduced to five years from the current six year term.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta while talking to Groundreport.in said that reduction of state legislature’s term to five years from that of six years will not only put the Union Territory at par with other places of the country but will also open up new horizons of growth.

“Why should there be two different set of rules for J&K and for the rest of the country. The UT is part and parcel of India and the term of all the other legislative assemblies of UTs as well as of the states should be no different to that of Jammu and Kashmir. It will strengthen our resolve to integrate J&K with rest of India,” Gupta told Groundreport.in.

He added that both the UTs of J&K and Ladakh will witness real development and people will be proud of the decision taken by the union government.

“The decision, which was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being supported by India, and people of Kashmir will also support it."

Hinting that that the ongoing communication blockade will continue till the situation witnesses some betterment, Gupta said that the BJP is aware of the hardships people face due to absence of internet and mobile telephone but the gag is very much in peoples’ interest. He added that the party will take up the issue of communication gag in Valley with the union government and urge it to establish more helpline services so that people could contact with their dear ones.

Gupta said that BJP held a detailed meeting with the Maharashtra government and in near future a major investment initiative shall be carried out in Kashmir. He added that a group of investors from Maharashtra will visit Kashmir and meet the Governor so that the plan to invest here could be taken up at the highest level. “We are sure that such initiatives will turn Kashmir into a hub of development and will provide its youth new avenues of employment and livelihood generation,” Gupta said.

The Governor's rule was imposed initially on June 20, 2018 and the Assembly was kept in suspended animation as the then state plunged into a political crisis when the Mehbooba Mufti-led BJP-PDP coalition government was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the 25-member BJP in the state.

Under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no provision for further continuation of Governor's rule after six months. Hence, on the recommendation of Governor and having regard to the prevailing situation in the state, the President's rule was imposed on December 20, 2018.

Subsequently, a resolution approving the President's rule was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 28, 2018 and in the Rajya Sabha on January 3, 2019