Indian parliament passes J&K Reorganization (Amendment) Bill in another move to suppress Kashmiris

According to details, the bill was passed in parliament among widespread criticism by opposition including Congress leaders who said that Narendra Modi led government is trying to turn Occupied Kashmir into a largest jail.

“There was no need to pass an ordinance. It is a clear attempt to create unrest in the valley,” said congress leaders while lashing out at ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A member Lok Sabha Hussain Masoodi said that government should restore the special status of Kashmir.

“Passage of this bill will make the situation more dangerous,” he said.

Speaking on occasion, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah announced that occupied Kashmir will be given statehood status at an appropriate time.

A bill to replace an ordinance to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of civil services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier on Saturday.

Background

India on August 05, 2019 in a unilateral move abrogated Articles 370 and 35A granting special status to occupied Kashmir. The move was followed by imposition of curfew and communication blackout in the valley.

On October 31, 2019 India formally divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir in to two new federally-administered territories as per the constitutional changes approved by the Indian parliament on August 5.

According to the new arrangement, the occupied Kashmir is divided into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which borders China. The two new union territories are now ruled directly from the capital Delhi. As per Indian constitution, union territories have far less autonomy from the federal government than states do.

Pakistan has, ever since, been raising its voice against Indian atrocities and gross human rights violations in Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khan also, in his historic speech at UNGA session last year, also highlighted how India has illegally imposed curfew and lockdown in the valley. He also warned the world that the worst humanitarian crisis could unfold in Kashmir followed by a possibility of war between the two nuclear states.

Even the international media, on several occasions, has highlighted the deteriorating situation in Kashmir resulting from the persistent curfew and lockdown.