“If Nehru had acted differently, PoK would have been part of India,” said Amit Shah while addressing the Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Bill and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023

During his address to the Lok Sabha regarding the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Bill and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that Kashmir had endured consequences stemming from two significant mistakes made by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Amit Shah’s statement came as the Lok Sabha approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, aiming to appoint two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representative for displaced individuals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly.

Additionally, the House passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, altering the classification of eligible beneficiaries for appointments and admissions under reserved quotas.

Shah attributed blame to Nehru for declaring a ceasefire without securing the entirety of Kashmir and for internationalizing the issue by involving the United Nations. According to Shah, these actions resulted in the plight faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He further asserted that had the ceasefire been declared three days later, PoK would have been a part of India.

“I support the word that was used here — Nehruvian blunder. Because of the blunder that was committed during the time of Nehru, Kashmir had to suffer. With responsibility, I want to say that the two big blunders that happened during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru, happened due to his decisions, because of which Kashmir had to suffer for years,” Shah said.

“Kashmir had to suffer due to Nehruvian blunders. One was that when our Army was winning and as soon as Punjab area was reached, ceasefire was declared and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was born. If the ceasefire would have been (declared) three days later, PoK would have been part of India,” the home minister added.

He also blamed Nehru for losing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the neighbouring nation. “Had Jawaharlal Nehru taken right steps, PoK would have been part of India now. It was historic blunder,” he added.

The two bills were passed after more than six hours of debate spanning over two days and a spirited reply by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The home minister said the two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir brought by the government will give justice to those deprived of their rights for the last 70 years and asserted that reservation to the displaced people will give them a voice in the legislature.

“The biggest opposition to the Backward Class and the work of stopping the Backward Class has been done by the Congress Party. The Backward Classes Commission was not given constitutional recognition for 70 years, Narendra Modi government gave constitutional recognition to the Backward Classes Commission,” Amit Shah said.

The home minister said a plan to have zero terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir has been in force for the last three years and it will be successful by 2026 when there will be no violence.

The Union Home Minister also said that no stone pelting took place in 2023 and added that Prime Minister Modi has been working relentlessly for welfare of backward classes.