Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to attend the ‘PoJK Sankalp Rally’ in Jammu on May 8, organized by Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum (JKPF), to reiterate the claim over PoJK occupied illegally by Pakistan.
This will be Shah’s second visit to Jammu in less than two months and third in seven months and comes amidst reports that the Central Government proposed to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after completion of delimitation exercise for Assembly constituencies followed by summary revision of electoral rolls.
Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla and Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Arvind Kumar are also visiting Srinagar tomorrow on a two-day visit to review arrangements for the Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage and the situation on the militancy front.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum is holding a function to recall the sacrifices of PoJK refugees since independence and the rights and compensation given to them by Narendra Modi-led BJP Government which successive previous Governments denied.
While the Government officials were yet to confirm the visit of Amit Shah at the JKPF function named ‘PoJK Sankalp Rally’, reliable sources confirmed that Shah would visit Jammu on May 8 to attend the rally from where a fresh call will be given for liberation of PoJK.
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum proposed a grand rally, which Shah will address, in which PoJK refugees not only from J&K but also those who have settled in other States will also be invited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Palli Panchayat in Samba district on April 24 on National Panchayats Day, followed by Shah’s rally on May 8, is seen as the launch of a campaign by the BJP for upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
There have been reports that the Delimitation Commission is likely to submit its report to the Union Law Ministry well before the May 6 deadline after settling claims and objections from political parties, organizations, and individuals.
The delimitation exercise must be followed by mandatory summary revision of electoral rolls, which can take about four months. The summary revision is essential before the Assembly elections as it has not been held in Jammu and Kashmir for the last three years.
Amit Shah visited Jammu on March 18 and 19 to join CRPF’s Raising Day Parade. He also reviewed security arrangements in the Union Territory during his visit.
Shah also undertook a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from October 23 to 26 last year.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla and Director Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar will visit Srinagar tomorrow on a two-day visit to review security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas and militancy-related incidents.
The 43-day pilgrimage will start on June 30 and conclude on August 11, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.
This will be the first high-level review of security and other arrangements for the annual pilgrimage of the Shri Amarnath Ji shrine for the current year.
The administration expects nearly eight lakh pilgrims to come for darshan of the holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas during 43 days long yatra.
It may be mentioned here that Shri Amarnath Ji yatra was cut short by at least a fortnight in 2019 ahead of Central Government’s August 5 decisions to abolish the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcate erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
In 2020 and 2021, the Shri Amarnath yatra was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic and only symbolic yatra was held for Chhari Pujan and conducting other rituals.
Top civil and police administration officers will give a detailed briefing to the visiting Union Home Secretary and the Intelligence Bureau chief about security and other arrangements for the Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage.
