The News Craving
Staff Report
Srinagar,
The Delimitation Commission will meet on December 20 in New Delhi to carve out new assembly segments in Jammu and Kashmir amid the call for more seats for Jammu region as well as for the Kashmiri Pandits.
The Commission has invited the five Lok Sabha MPs from Jammu and Kashmir to take part in the proceedings of the panel on December 20. The meeting will be held at hotel Ashoka, New Delhi.
The meeting has come at a time when several leaders in Jammu have sought increase in the Assembly seats from existing 36 and Kashmiri pandit leaders have demanded reservation of 5 assembly seats for them. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Home Minister, Amit Shah, earlier said that after the delimitation Assembly elections will be held indicating that the statehood could be resorted only later.
National Conference member parliament (MP) Justice (retd.) Hasnian Masoodi who is an associate member of the delimitation commission has confirmed receiving the invitation.
The Commission is headed by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai and its term will end in March 2022.
Former Minister and People’s Democratic Front chairman, Hakeem Yaseen, said that the Government of India should restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest adding that people want protection to their rights on land and employment.
He urged the GoI to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before holding assembly elections.
The assembly seats will increase to 90 from the existing 83 for Jammu and Kashmir with segments to be reserved for SC and ST population as well.