Srinagar, December 15: With rumours gaining pace of a possible rejig in laws to offset the impact of Article 370 repeal, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh claimed that no such move is in the offing. The clarification from Singh, who is the MoS in Prime Minister's Office, comes amid indications issued by top officials that the government may make 15-year residency must in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for owning land in the two union territories. Jammu & Kashmir: Ex-CM Farooq Abdullah's Detention Extended For 3 Months by UT Administration.

Singh, while speaking to a leading English daily, said that neither Article 370 would be reinstated through any "backdoor" nor the Centre is planning to include J&K and Ladakh under Article 371 -- which provides special rights to 10 Indian states, most from the Northeast, to protect their cultural and linguistic identities.

Such rumours, claimed the Union MoS, are being spread by elements linked to the National Conference and the Congress. Both these parties, he alleged, were "prime beneficiaries" of Article 370 which has now been abrogated. The government, he said, would not dilute its decision of August 5 in any manner.

Top sources, while speaking to TOI, contended that the Centre may not dilute the decision to scrap J&K's special status. They, however, claimed that the domicile laws may be changed in the near future to make 15-year residency must for owning land in both J&K and Ladakh.

The sources claimed that the domicile laws would only apply for those who want to buy land for residential or non-industrial purposes. For big-ticket investors, there would be no hindrance to set up business establishments, industries or factories. The free-hand approach is aimed at inducing investments, which in turn would generate jobs for the locals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2019 05:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).