Venkaiah calls for delimitation

The BJP on Wednesday emphasised the need to start the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir 8220;at the earliest8221;.

The BJP on Wednesday emphasised the need to start the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir 8220;at the earliest8221;.

Addressing a press conference senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu said the delimitation of constituencies should be done in the state like the rest of the country. 8220;The Election Commission figures show that of approximately 56.12 lakh voters, 28,92,290 are from the Jammu region while 25,46,913 are from Kashmir. Around 1.73 lakh voters are from Ladakh. The area occupied by Jammu is 26,000 sq km while Kashmir occupies only 15,000 sq km. Despite this, there are only 37 Assembly constituencies in Jammu while Kashmir has 46. Jammu has only two Lok Sabha seats while Kashmir has three,8221; said Naidu.

While the BJP has made huge inroads in the Jammu region post the Amarnath agitation, also recorded by a recent in-house survey, some leaders wondered if this was the right moment to air such demands. In fact, speaking at the all-party meeting Arun Jaitley had said: 8220;We are unapologetic about our role in the Amarnath agitation. It is the response of the masses due to the accumulation of their grievances. If parties supporting the UPA can plead for organisations like SIMI, why can8217;t we stand with the masses.8221;

Cong slams BJP on delimitation talk

The Congress has condemned the BJP8217;s demand to initiate delimitation exercise in Jammu 038; Kashmir, terming it as 8220;utterly irresponsible8221; and an attempt to 8220;fish in troubled waters8221;. 8220;It shows utter callousness to even talk about delimitation in respect of J038;K when it is so tense and volatile,8221; said AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

CPM calls for talks to defuse crisis

The CPIM called for suspension of agitations in both Jammu and the Kashmir valley and resolution of the issues through discussions. It also asked the Centre to compensate the losses suffered by fruit growers and ensure that agitators do not block the national highway. The CPI said while resolving the dispute over the land, the primary goal should be to provide necessary facilities to Amarnath pilgrims and involvement of the local population in providing amenities to the devotees.