New Delhi: A bill to substitute an ordinance to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of civil services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Saturday.

bringing in 'The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021', Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the government was working to take Jammu and Kashmir on the path to development.

In opposing the bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked "what was the need to bring an ordinance for this?". He said regularly promulgating an ordinance is not good for a parliamentary democracy as an ordinance should be preceded by an emergency situation or any urgency. He said, "Our point of contention is loud and clear,", adding after abrogating Article 370, the government showed a "dream" to the people that they would "make heaven" in Jammu and Kashmir and create jobs there. The introduction of this bill reflects that the government took the step of abrogating Article 370 without any preparation, Chowdhury alleged.

The Congress leader said Jammu and Kashmir is a sensitive state and the cadre should be local and officers having ground knowledge should be appointed there. He alleged that militancy is still prevalent in the union territory and people are living in an atmosphere of fear.

The govt tried to turn Jammu and Kashmir into a large prison, the opposition leader said, adding they blocked telecommunication services and failed to normalize the situation there. "There is unemployment, restriction, lost avenues and total confusion," Chowdhury added.

He further said the govt had promised to bring back Kashmiri Pandits to the Kashmir valley but has failed to ensure their return. "Please think for Jammu and Kashmir with new ideas and do not take adhoc measures," he said, adding the government should make Jammu and Kashmir a state and create a cadre to appoint officers there.

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