Addressing Congress and “three families who trampled development” in Jammu and Kashmir for years, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah told Lok Sabha on Saturday that J&K is a “sensitive part of the country” that has been “wounded many times” and it is the “duty of this House to apply balm and not scratch it.”

He also said that J&K will be granted statehood at an “appropriate time (upayukta samay).”

In response to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Shah said: “Many members have said that introducing this bill means that Jammu and Kashmir will not get statehood. I’m piloting the Bill, I brought it. I have clarified the intention. Nowhere is it written that statehood will not be granted. Where do you get this (conclusion)? ”.

“I have said it before and I reiterate it now: this bill has nothing to do with the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Upayukta samay par Jammu-Kashmir ko diya jayega statehood (Jammu and Kashmir will obtain statehood at the appropriate time), ”he said.

In his hour-long speech, Shah criticized the opposition for its “politics” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to the recently concluded elections to the District Development Councils at J&K, he said that 51.7 percent of the votes were cast in a “very peaceful atmosphere … without any layoffs.”

He said that those who had fought in the elections on the basis of the restoration of Article 370 had been “eliminated” and “do not even have the mandate of the people of Kashmir, and they have been defeated.”

“Even now I want to say that we don’t make Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh part of politics. There are many other things for politics. Come to the political arena … no one is afraid. This is a sensitive part of the country. They have been injured many times. They have doubts and misunderstandings in their mind. It is the duty of this House to apply balm and not scratch it. We should not view Jammu and Kashmir from a petty political mindset, ”he said.

“You (the opposition) have said that the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior promised that full statehood will be restored. Again I want to promise the people of Jammu and Kashmir that it will definitely happen. Soon after its development, which has been stalled by three families, Jammu and Kashmir will attain full state status in due course. It has nothing to do with this bill. The possibility of restoring full statehood does not end with this bill. I want to make it clear, ”he said.

Earlier, in initiating debate on the bill, Congressional Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the government about the promises it made to the people of J&K while repealing Article 370.

“You say you will bring back Gilgit-Baltistan. That is a matter for later. But at least bring back the internally displaced, those who cannot go to the Kashmir Valley, ”he said.

“The dreams that you had shown after the repeal of article 370 have not come true. J&K has not returned to normal. More than Rs 90,000 crore of local businesses were completed. We want you to tell us how you will improve things at J&K … You should at least say, ‘raat gayi to baat gayi, choice gaya to vaada gaya’. He should clarify his position, ”Chowdhury said.

Hasnain Masoodi from the National Conference said normalcy has yet to return to the region. “There has been an increase in encounters. The measure could have been aimed at development, but due to the increase in encounters in rural and urban areas, development has taken a back seat, ”he said.

RSP member NK Premachandran wanted to know about the law and order situation at J&K. He suggested that a delegation from all parties visit the Union Territory to assess the situation on the ground.

Responding to the Opposition’s accusations, Shah said: “Here, it was said that what happened to the promises made at the time of the repeal of Article 370? I will definitely answer. But it’s only been 17 months since 370 was repealed. Have you come up with details of what you did for 70 years? ”.

He also said that Kashmir will be connected by railways by 2022.

During the debate, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that there were only 5 Kashmiri Muslims in 24 secretarial posts in UT. Of the 58 IAS officers, he said only 12 were Muslim.

Criticizing Owaisi for viewing the bureaucracy on the basis of religion, Shah said: “The bureaucracy is divided on the basis of Hindu-Muslim. What is this concept? Can a Hindu officer not serve Muslims? Can a Muslim officer not serve Hindus? You consider yourself a layman and divide the number of officers between Hindus and Muslims … You will not bring peace to Kashmir. It will only add to the distractions and doubts. “

Later, the bill was approved by oral vote after the House rejected the legal resolution proposed by Chowdhury and the amendment proposed by Premachandran.

The bill seeks to replace the Jammu and Kashmir Ordinance (Amendment), 2021, which was enacted to merge the existing cadre of Jammu and Kashmir with the cadre of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) in relation to with the All India Services viz. Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service. Rajya Sabha had already passed the bill.

.