SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the Supreme Court judgment on the conduct of Assembly elections in J&K before September 30, 2024, will be implemented in letter and spirit. LG also said that Paharis will get reservation very soon. He added that there has been a 350 percent increase in the arrival of foreign tourists in the Valley and the number of domestic tourists this year has crossed two crores benefitting everyone connected with the tourism sector in the UT.
While speaking at an event in New Delhi, LG Manoj Sinha said the debate on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India has ended with the Supreme Court decision. “The decision taken by the Government of India has been endorsed by the Apex Court. The country as well as Jammu and Kashmir has accepted the verdict. The debate (on abrogation of Article 370) should rest now,’’ he added.
LG Manoj Sinha said “ On August 5, 2019, the Union Home Minister announced in the Parliament that the Delimitation Commission will be set up for J&K followed by elections and restoration of Statehood at the appropriate level. The Prime Minister too had addressed the nation and made a similar statement.”
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“After delimitation of constituencies and revision of voter lists, the Election Commission has stated that process has started. The Solicitor General in an affidavit in the Apex Court had also assured elections and restoration of Statehood. The Supreme Court order will be implemented in letter and spirit,’’ the LG said.
LG Sinha also said that Paharis are going to get reservation soon. A bill which grants ST status to Paharis was introduced in Lok Sabha in the Parliament in July this year.
“The Pakistani refugees, Gorkhas etc settled in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 75 years and had no property, education, job and voting rights. Women were deprived of rights if they were married outside. They now feel empowered (following the abrogation of Article 370). Kashmiri Pandits have been given political reservation. Wherever they (the KPs) live, they can get a domicile certificate of Jammu and Kashmir.
“PoJK and West Pakistani were given Rs 5.5 lakh compensation. OBCs and Dalits have been given reservations in jobs and education. New castes have been added as OBCs. Nine seats have been reserved in the Assembly for STs. Paharis are going to get reservation soon.
LG Manoj Sinha said “ Today there is such a Government at the Centre that terrorists can’t sit with the Prime Minister. They have to sit on a floor in front of a junior official of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).”
“The changes brought about following the repeal of Article 370 instilled a sense of pride among the population of nearly 11 million people. They have begun to believe that the Government in Delhi today is willing to respect and protect their rights,” LG Sinha said.
The LG said “ There has been a 300 percent increase in foreign tourists. Last year, 1.82 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and this year, in November, number of the tourists has already crossed two crore.”
“People of Kashmir including auto and taxi operators, hoteliers, vendors and all those connected to tourism have been benefitting out of this,’’ he added.
On industrial development, LG Sinha said that Rs 86,000 crore worth of investment proposals have been received and many of them are on the ground now after the implementation of the new Industrial Development Scheme. The LG further added, “ Work on infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore is currently underway in Jammu and Kashmir.”