The Centre on Wednesday introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha, in which it termed the ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Kashmir in 1989–90 as ‘migration’ and the Islamic terrorism as just ‘militancy’.

“At the time of the ‘militancy’ in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in the late eighties, particularly in Kashmir (Division) in 1989-90, a large number of people ‘migrated’ from their ancestral places of residence, in Kashmir province particularly the Kashmiri Hindus and Pandits alongwith few families belonging to Sikh and Muslim communities,” the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill said.

“Initially all the migrants were moved to Jammu. Later on, some migrants chose to go to other parts of the country, namely Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. As per the data available with Government of Jammu and Kashmir, there are currently forty-six thousand five hundred and seventeen families having one lakh fifty-eight thousand nine hundred and seventy-six persons registered with the Relief Organisation of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir who have got registered over a period of last three decades,” it added

The Bill seeks to increase the strength of the legislative assembly of the union territory to 114 from 107. It also offers reservations of nine seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time.

“The Act is proposed to be amended with a view to provide representation to “Kashmiri Migrants”, “Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir” and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir so as to preserve their political rights as well as for their overall social and economic development,” said the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill.

Criticising the Bill, Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal National President Ankur Sharma said it is “an expression of State of India’s Policy of Denial of Hindu Genocide” and “a desperate attempt to provide Secular Guise to Jihad & Jihadists”.

“Islamic Jihad Terrorism is termed as “Militancy”; “Hindu Genocide of 1989-90” is shamefully termed as “Migration” & Stacking of Muslims along with Hindus & Sikhs is an attempt to “Secularise Ethnic Hindu Cleansing”,” he said in a tweet.

“Denial of Genocide is the 10th & Final Stage of Genocide. It is the Climax of Genocide. It Perpetuates & Duplicates Genocide. State of India through its Policy of Denial is facilitating & Perpetuating Hindu Genocide. Reason: Central Govt’s commitment towards Muslim Appeasement/Triptikaran/Santushtikaran,” Sharma added.