Now, BJD Supports BJP’s Move To Pass J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill In RS

New Delhi: In yet another indication of the growing proximity between the BJP at the Centre and the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD, the latter has decided to extend support to the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which is currently being debated in Rajya Sabha.

Even as Naveen continued to assert his party’s stand of maintaining equidistance both from the BJP and the Congress, events after the Lok Sabha polls hint at growing bonhomie between the two parties.

BJD not only decided to back BJP’s Om Birla for the Speaker’s post, but also sprang a surprise by supporting the candidature of BJP’s Ashwini Vaishnav for Rajya Sabha from Odisha. This despite the fact that the party had the requisite strength in the State Assembly to send its candidates unopposed to the three vacant seats in the Upper House.

The latest instance of this camaraderie between BJP-BJD came to fore on Monday when Naveen’s party extended support to J&K Reservation Bill, as reported by media.

Significantly, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC is also supporting the legislation along with RJD. DMK is opposing it.

About the Bill:  

*The Bill, which seeks to bring benefit to the people of the State residing along the international border in jobs, promotions and admission to professional courses, was passed in Lok Sabha last Friday.

*The support of the Opposition benches is crucial for the BJP-led government in Rajya Sabha as it does not have the required strength in the Upper House to pass legislation on its own unlike in Lok Sabha.

*TMC MP Derek O’ Brien has, however, expressed resentment over the delay in holding elections to the State Assembly.

*Introducing the Bill in the Upper House this afternoon, Home Minister Amit Shah said Parliament had to take up the legislation as President’s rule is in vogue in J&K.

*Media reports said Shah assured the House that elections to J&K Assembly will take place in October this year.

*He said the passage of the Bill will benefit 3.5 lakh people living in 435 villages of Jammu — 70 villages in Kathua district, 133 villages in Sambha and 232 in Jammu).

“For a long time, an anomaly has been seen in Jammu and Kashmir. Let’s deliver justice to these children,” he said.