The BJP on Thursday released its ‘vision document’ for Jammu and Kashmir which was silent on the abrogation of Article 370 but raised an issue that could touch raw nerves in the State.
According to the document, the party wants to reserve eight seats in the J&K Assembly for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Kashmiri Pandits. “The party will reserve five seats for PoK refugees and three for displaced Kashmiris out of the 46 seats earmarked for the Kashmir Valley,” party MP and state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna said.
The call for reserving of seats on religious grounds in J&K is inconsistent with the BJP’s policy, which is against religion-based quota.