Drawing a Line- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2: Federalism- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.
Drawing a Line- Context
- J&K Delimitation Commission in its report proposed remapping of Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory (UT).
- This has got the entire spectrum of regional parties in the Kashmir Valley up in arms. At the core of their protest is the fear of a shift of political power to the Jammu region.
Drawing a Line- J&K Delimitation Commission
- Background: The J&K Delimitation Commission was constituted on March 6, 2020, by virtue of the Parliament Act under the provisions of Part V of the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019.
- Mandate: J&K Delimitation Commission was mandated to redraw and delineate seven additional Assembly segments to the 83-member Legislative Assembly of the UT.
The Editorial Analysis- Thinking before Linking
Drawing a Line- Key Recommendation
- Factors considered for additional constituencies-
- Inadequate communication and
- Lack of public conveniences due to their excessive remoteness or inhospitable conditions on the international border.
- The J&K Delimitation Commission has suggested six additional Assembly segments in Jammu, from 37 to 43, and one in the Valley, from 46 to 47.
- Reservation for SC/ST:
- The J&K Delimitation Commission has suggested reserving seven seats for Scheduled Castes (Hindus) that mainly populate the Samba-Kathua-Jammu-Udhampur belt.
- The commission, for the first time ever, has also earmarked nine seats for Scheduled Tribes.
- This is likely to benefit the Rajouri-Poonch belt with the highest concentration of STs, mainly non-Kashmiri-speaking Muslims.
The Editorial Analysis: Home truths on climate change
Drawing a Line-Associated Concerns
- Opposition from Local Political Parties: shift of political power to the Jammu region has led to protest by political parties.
- Fear has grown especially after the reorganization of the erstwhile J&K State into two UTs and the controversial elimination of its special constitutional status in 2019.
- Shift of Political Power: Proposed remapping of Assembly constituencies may result in the shift of political power from the Muslim region to the Hindu region.
- Enhancing the share of Jammu: The allocation seems to enhance the electoral prospects of the Jammu-based parties at the cost of the Kashmir-based ones.
- Valley parties have opposed the draft as “unacceptable” and “divisive” and question its legality.
- Constitutional Validity: There is a national freeze on delimitation, and the constitutional challenge to the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, is still pending before the Supreme Court.
The Editorial Analysis – Age and Marriage
Drawing a Line- Conclusion
- Continuing arbitrariness and heavy-handed measures to repurpose the politics of J&K may appear successful momentarily, but that may not be the sustainable route.
- Government must adopt a democratic path driven by more conversations and accommodative measures with the ultimate goal of providing statehood to the J&K.
The Editorial Analysis- Wrong Forum