Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that the tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly be reduced to five years from the current six year term.Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta while talking to PTK said that reduction of state legislature’s term to five years from of the six years will not put JK at par with other places of the country but will also open up new horizons of growth and prosperity. “Why should there be two different set of rules for JK and for the rest of the country. JK is part and parcel of India and the term of all the other legislative assemblies of UTs as well as of the states should be no different to that of Jammu and Kashmir. It will strengthen our resolve to integrate JK with rest of India,” Gupta told PTK.He added that both the Union Territories (UTs) of JK and Ladakh will witness real development and people will be proud of the decision taken by the union government as it scrapped Article 370 and 35A. “The decision which was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi whole world is supporting India and people of Kashmir will also support the decision of PM Modi, added that PM promises that Kashmir will see development in coming days.Hinting that that the ongoing communication blockade will continue till the situation witnesses some betterment, Gupta said that the BJP is aware of the hardships people face due to absence of internet and mobile telephony but the gag is very much in peoples’ interest. He added that the party will take up the issue of communication gag in Valley with the union government and urge it to establish more helpline services so that people could contact with their dear ones.Gupta said that BJP held a detailed meeting with the Maharashtra government and in near future a major investment initiative shall be carried out in Kashmir. He added that a group of investors from Maharashtra will visit Kashmir and meet the JK Governor so that the plan to invest here could be taken up at the highest level. “We are sure that such initiatives will turn Kashmir into a hub of development and will provide its youth new avenues of employment and livelihood generation,” Gupta said.The Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir was imposed initially on June 20, 2018 and the State Assembly was kept in suspended animation after the state plunged into a political crisis when the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the 25-member BJP in the state.Under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no provision for further continuation of Governor's rule after six months. Hence, on the recommendation of Governor and having regard to the prevailing situation in the state, the President's rule was imposed on December 20, 2018.
Subsequently, a resolution approving the President's rule was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 28, 2018 and in the Rajya Sabha on January 3, 2019. (PTK)