People Expected Statehood, Not ‘Another Attack on Democracy’: GA Mir

SRINAGAR: Reacting to the introduction of three bills in the Lok Sabha today, including a Constitution Amendment Bill, a Bill to amend the Union Territories Act, 1963, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025, Congress leader and AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said on Wednesday that people were expecting the restoration of statehood to JK, not “another attack on democracy.”

Mir strongly criticised the BJP government for drafting what he described as “more stringent” laws for States, Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir. He further said the new provisions would weaken the federal structure and reduce the powers of elected governments.

“As per the description, if a chief minister or minister faces allegations, they are being arrested and forced to resign. Under the new clause, if a chief minister is arrested, their resignation will automatically be accepted on the 31st day. This is nothing but another wound on democracy,” he remarked.

He accused the BJP government of ‘continuously trying to downgrade the authority of states and Union Territories by stripping them of their constitutional rights’.

“The government shows something attractive at first but later unveils a much harsher reality,” Mir added. (KINS)