Two bills, one for the extension of the President’s Rule in the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir and Reservation (Amendment) Bill were presented in the Rajya Sabha on Monday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The President’s Rule in the state is ending on Tuesday.
Both the bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha too, the Opposition gave its support to extend President’s rule by six months in Jammu and Kashmir.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s Rule since June 2018 after the BJP-PDP alliance broke up with Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the chief minister.
The Assembly Elections for the state would be announced later this year. Before announcing the elections, President’s Rule, which is applicable for six-month periods, has to be renewed.
The Election Commission had, in March, ruled out holding the state elections along with the general elections in view of the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha elections were also held in three phases for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir.
In February, a suicide attack in Pulwama had claimed the lives of more than 40 CRPF jawans.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 proposes to give quota benefits in jobs and educational institutions to people living near the state’s International Border.
In June, the Election Commission had denoted that it has received a go-ahead from the state government regarding the elections.
Home Minister Amit Shah is reported to speak in the Rajya Sabha on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 at 7 pm on Monday.
(With agency inputs)