Parliament LIVE: Lok Sabha Gives Nod to President’s Rule in J&K For Another Six Months

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh Friday said BJP was ready for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the final decision on the matter will be taken by the Elections Commission after considering security related issues. Participating in the debate on a Resolution seeking Lok Sabha's approval to extend president's rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months, Singh said the BJP is a party with difference and unlike other parties, BJP workers remain active throughout the year.

Kashmiris are our brothers and sisters and we want to embrace them, Amit Shah said while moving the amendment bill of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The legislation will provide reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to those living within 10 km of the international border (IB) along the Line of Control (LoC).

Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Bihar. 

Terming Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on President's Rule in J&K as unacceptable, former chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah said, "So the Home Minister’s argument is that because the Congress has used Article 356 more times than anyone else the Modi government is justified in denying the people of J&K an elected government. That’s an unacceptable argument."

So the Home Minister’s argument is that because the Congress has used Article 356 more times than anyone else the Modi government is justified in denying the people of J&K an elected government. That’s an unacceptable argument. https://t.co/IOsi9aUIKT

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 28, 2019

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said no civilians were killed in the air and surgical strikes by Indian troops on terrorist hubs in Pakistan. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said his government had changed the approach of dealing with terrorism and was attacking its roots in Pakistan. "Our government did air strike and surgical strike. The record should be clear before the public. No civilians were killed in these strikes," he said. He said that previous governments too worked on terrorism but in a different way. (IANS)

"Some say there is an atmosphere of fear there. Those who are against India should have fear in their hearts. We are not part of tukde tukde gang. We are not against common people of J&K," Amit Shah said, adding that a process for creating jobs for the youth has been started.

The Lok Sabha has approved the statutory resolution to extend President's rule in Jammu & Kashmir for a further period of 6 months with effect from July 3.The state has been under President's rule since December 2018 after the six-month long Governor's rule ended.  

" In 1953 when SP Mukherjee ji entered Kashmir protesting against the two Prime Ministers in a country rule he was thrown in jail. His death was also not probed. Why? Was he not a senior opposition leader? A leader from Bengal, a former Union Minister?," Shah said. 

"There was a time when there was no sign of India in Kashmir. State Bank of India signboard was seen with a cloth covering 'India' word. Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi risked their lives and unfurled triclour at Lal Chowk. We were not in power then," Home Minister Amit Shah said. 

He said the BJP government has empowered the governance in Ladakh and steps have been taken for the resettlement of the Kashmiri Pandits, He also informed that compensation for those affected by cross-border firing has been increased. 

Training the guns at the Congress, Shah said that Congress in J&K supported the Muslim Conference, which was established by Sheikh Abdullah in 1931, and did not start it own unit there. "Congress put all its eggs in Abdullah's basket and he ran away with the basket and as a result he became the Prime Minister there," Shah told the Parliament. 

Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Modi government  provided a package to Jammu and Kashmir  for power projects, IITs, IIMs and other infrastructure and the projects have been completed. 

"We don't want to ignite fear in the Jammu & Kashmir people," says Amit Shah. He adds that the Narendra Modi govt has given Jammu & Kashmir 40,000 rightfully elected panchayats.

"Whenever the Election Commission decides to have democratic elections in J&K, polls will be held," Amit Shah says, blaming the Congress for controlling the EC when it was in power.

Home Minister Amit Shah says that all the elections that took place in Jammu & Kashmir when the Congress was in power were a "joke" in the name of democracy. 

Of all the princely states that were divided, Article 370 applies only to Jammu & Kashmir, which was being handled by Nehru while the rest were under Sardar Patel's care, Amit Shah says.

Jawaharlal Nehru is to be blame for the conflict over Kashmir, who did not take his Home Minister Sardar Patel into confidence, says Home Minister Amit Shah.

"We still maintain that the country should not be divided along religious lines," Amit Shah says, blaming the Congress for the Partition.

"We targeted the very root of terror by conducting air strikes and surgical strikes in which not one civilian was killed. The strikes were not attacks, but simply defense to protect ourselves," Home Minister Amit Shah says.

Amit Shah says that anti-India propoganda was taking place in Kashmir targeting youth, but his govt has stopped that. He adds that every party has tried to fight terrorism, but there is vast difference in the way it is fought.

Home Minister Amit Shah's Rebuttal | " We never used Article 356 for political gains," says Home Minister Amit Shah. He adds that pre-emptive arrest and fortified prisons have helped checked terrorism.

"Coalition with the PDP was dictated by the mandate of the people, and we walked out (of the coalition) because of the will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir," says Jitendra Singh.

J&K's Udhampur BJP MP Jitendra Singh | Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office and MP from Udhampur in J&K says, "The BJP is ready for an election at all times." He adds that the Opposition hopes for 8 to 10 percent voter turnout, and hence win the election.

Hasnain Masoodi says that people hoped that Home Minister would announce elections during his visit to Jammu & Kashmir. "The governor may be efficient, but is not a representative," he adds.

"It will be best to hold assembly elections and form a responsible and answerable state govt in Jammu & Kashmir immediately": J&K National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi.

Hasnain Masoodi, Anantnag MP, Takes the Floor | Jammu & Kashmir National Conference MP from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi says, "What is the reason that the 'dance of democracy' is kept away from Jammu & Kashmir?"

AITC MP from Jaynagar (West Bengal) Pratima Mandal: "Provide the same reservation to SC, ST and other backward classes as well."

Poonam Mahajan: "The people of Kashmir want the NDA govt, and want Narendra Modi to lead the entire country into a bright future"

"We have risen beyond politics, and are trying to bring together the youth of the entire country together through this bill," says Poonam Mahajan, National President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.