Amendment bills attempt to crush democracy: Deputy CM

Pulwama, Aug 21: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Thursday likened the three amendment bills introduced in the monsoon session of parliament to the entry of the East India Company into India.

“When I learnt about the introduction of these bills, it reminded me of the East India Company. Initially, when the British came to India, they created such a situation and eventually ruled the country for 200 years,” Choudhary told reporters in Pulwama.

He said the bills were an attempt to crush democracy, but added that the people of India would not allow them to trample on the democracy for which they had made countless sacrifices.

Criticising the dual power structure in Jammu and Kashmir, Choudhary said: “Here, two governments are running — one of Omar Sahab and the other of the Lieutenant Governor — and because of this, progress is not made the way it should have been.”

He added that people’s issues would be addressed more efficiently once statehood was restored.