PDP MLA’s bill proposing new divisions, districts in J&K faces flak from NC, BJP

SRINAGAR: PDP legislator Waheed Parra’s private member’s bill proposing the creation of 16 new districts in J&K and two additional divisions in Jammu, has come in for scathing criticism from governing NC as well as opposition BJP, who questioned the intent behind the proposed legislation.

NC said the bill was a “deliberate attempt to arouse public opinion and sabotage the govt’s intent to empower sub-regions”. BJP called the proposal divisive, and alleged it was in line with the design of Pakistan and ISI to create a ‘Greater Kashmir’.

Parra submitted the Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill to the Assembly secretariat, proposing new administrative divisions and districts across the Union Territory to “improve governance and administrative reach”.

The bill seeks the creation of two new divisions in Jammu — Chenab and Pir Panjal. It also proposes carving out eight additional districts each in Kashmir and Jammu. At present, J&K has two divisions, Jammu and Kashmir, each having 10 districts.

The bill has gained traction on social media, stirring a debate, forcing political parties to respond. NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said PDP’s move to bring in the proposals even as the govt is working towards empowerment of sub-regions reflected a different intent. It indicated a sabotage attempt, he alleged, questioning why the Mehbooba Mufti-led party was discussing new districts and divisions despite lacking the legislative strength to see the proposals through.

During the tenure of PDP-BJP in 2016-17, a similar set of recommendations made by an expert committee was rejected by the govt. “Now when the NC govt is planning to empower sub-regions, the PDP is bringing in such bills to create distrust among people,” he said, terming it a “sabotage bill”.

BJP alleged the proposals made in the bill aligned with ISI’s agenda. “The bill proposes two additional divisions for Jammu — one comprising Kishtwar and Doda, and another Rajouri and Poonch. They are referring to these as Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions. We do not accept these terms. This was part of ISI design in the 1990s to merge these Muslim majority areas with Kashmir and carve out a ‘Greater Kashmir.’ PDP is working on the same agenda. We will not allow it,” BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said.

Pointing out that Kashmir has three regions traditionally referred to as Maraz (south Kashmir), Kamraz (north Kashmir), and central Kashmir, he asked: “Why don’t they create three divisions here as well? Why do they only want to break Jammu?”

However, Thakur said there could be a case for creating three new districts in Kashmir, and if at all needed, three existing police districts in the Valley could be upgraded into full-fledged districts.
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