BJP's Nishikant Dubey demands reservation of LS seats in PoK

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Godda (Jharkhand), Nishikant Dubey, on Wednesday said the time has come to introduce the bill announcing Lok Sabha seats for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (Pok) so as to provide justice to the people of Kashmir.

"I met Kiren Rijiju almost thrice and he said when this bill will be introduced, then we will meet all the members and will try to correct the historic mistake that is being carried out from 1951-1953 and will try to provide justice to the people of Kashmir," said Dubey.

"I think the time has now come for the government to table this bill as a government bill so that the problems, including food, clothing, shelter and health, over there can be addressed," he added while highlighting the atrocities committed by Pakistan in the region.

The BJP leader had earlier attempted to introduce the bill twice in the Parliament on November 3, 2014, and February 5, 2015, to reserve the Lok Sabha seats in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), but the bill was rejected both times.

"There is provision in the Constitution that the Lok Sabha can have 550 seats, as of now the Lok Sabha has 545 seats. So I had urged that we can reserve five seats for Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Balistan," Dubey said.