A Kashmiri Pandit organization has come up with a demand asking the Delimitation Commission to mandate Parliamentary and Assembly seats for PoK, main Karakoram Range, and Shaksgam Valley, which is allegedly under China’s illegal occupation.
Chairman, Reconciliation, Return, and Rehabilitation of Migrants, Satish Mahaldar, said, "While abolishing Jammu and Kashmir's special status, the Government of India retained provisions related to Pakistan occupied Kashmir, reserving 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of J&K. The J&K Constitution, enacted in 1956, had earmarked 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly that were left vacant and not contested during state elections."
Mahaldar urged the Delimitation Commission that Parliamentary and Assembly seats should be provided for the Shaksgam Valley and the main Karakoram Range.
J&K, including PoK, Shaksgam Valley, and the main Karakoram Range has been declared by India as its integral parts, and all the issue concerning these regions is the internal matter of India.
The Delimitation Commission is mandated to redraw the boundaries of the existing constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir (UT). It should also take the Supreme Court's view while delimiting additional Lok Sabha seats for Parliament and Assembly of the Union Territory, including the PoK region, Shaksgam Valley, and the main Karakoram Range (illegally Occupied by China).
"Though the population forms the base (for delimitation), the Commission shall take into account constituencies' practicality, geographical compatibility, topography, physical features, means of communication, and convenience available besides granting reservation to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities and indigenous original aborigines -- the Kashmiri Pandit community,” Mahaldar said.
He further added, “if the Delimitation Commission fails while delimiting additional Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for PoK region, Shaksgam Valley and main Karakoram Range (Ladakh) which are parts of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), then an agitation will be launched.”
