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MHA has prioritized institution of J&K delimitation panel: Soz
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/19/2020 6:52:48 AM
‘Possible implications must be appreciated, with earnestness’
SRINAGAR, Feb 18: Former minister Prof. Saifuddin Soz, today said that Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) has prioritized to institute Jammu and Kashmir delimitation commission and that this is on expected lines.
In a statement he said,” Soon after the parliament had passed the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019 on 9th August, 2019, I had imagined that ‘Kashmir Centric’ events would follow, one after the other. Now that the Election Commission of India has appointed its nominee for the proposed Delimitation Commission, I want to say a couple of things that should be appreciated for the possible implications.”
Soz added that since he is not a lawyer, he wants to deal only with the political aspects of the new development.
“First of all, my appeal to the people of Kashmir is that they should decide to organize their argument, democratically and constitutionally. They will succeed, that way only. The other is that I want to remind the people that the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir which forbade Delimitation till 2031 is no longer in existence,” he said.
The former minister added that the Delimitation Commission has to increase the number of seats in the union territory of J&K by 7 seats. “The implication lies in the distribution of seats between Jammu and Kashmir. Since there is no democratic forum in existence, at the moment, the distribution of seven seats could carry an element of arbitrariness, also. In my opinion, the best course available to union home ministry is to wait for a democratically elected Legislative Assembly, where the subject will be discussed to be followed by the decision. Otherwise, the system can suffer considerable tension,” Soz viewed
He stated that “meanwhile, reportedly, two senior politicians –Muzaffar Hussain Beig and Syed Altaf Bukhari are going to Delhi with their own schedule of work.” “I wish both leaders decide to meet PM and HM, may be separately, and discuss the question of Delimitation with them, on priority,” he said.