Rajya Sabha Gives Nod For Extension of President's Rule in Jammu And Kashmir; Will Implement 'Jamhuriat, Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat', Says Amit Shah

New Delhi, July 1: The Rajya Sabha on Monday gave its nod for the extension of President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir by six months from July 3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution for extending President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and the amendment bill of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. The Upper House of Parliament approved the extension of President's rule and passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. Both were passed by the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah said the Modi government will not deviate from the approach of 'Jamuriat, Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat', terms first used by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, promising a healing touch for Kashmir. Shah, however, questioned the premise of what's understood as "Kashmiriyat". The Home Minister said the time will come when Sufis and Pandits will reside together in Kashmir. Amit Shah Issues List of Top 10 Militants Active in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I agree that we need to preserve Kashmiriyat, but I have a question... Sufism had once been at the heart of Kashmir, but that is no longer the case," Shah said. "Wasn't the Sufi tradition a part of Kashmiriyat? In the whole country, Kashmir was the stronghold of Sufism. Where is that culture now? They were driven out of their homes. Their religious places were torn down. The Sufi saints were singled out and killed," he added. Kashmir Cannot Be Separated from India Whether Modi is PM or Not: Amit Shah.

"Why did Kashmiri Pandits leave? Why were the Sufis killed? Sufis spoke on unity. A time will come when Kashmiri Pandits will be praying and Sufis will be seen alongside them in Kashmir," Shah said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2019 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).