Home Minister Amit Shah's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir: Amarnath Security review on the agenda

Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow. This would be Shah's first visit to the state as the Home Minister. 

On the first day of his visit, Shah will review the security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. As per reports, the Home Minister is likely to land in Srinagar at 1 pm. Once in Srinagar, the HM will visit the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik. Malik and Shah have planned some important meetings. The Sher-i-Kashmir Conference Center (SKICC) which is situated on the banks of Dal Lake has been selected as the venue where Shah will address many delegates. He will also review the development initiatives at the SKICC.

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Shah is going to review the security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra due to begin on July 1. The security detail has been increased on the Amarnath Yatra route after the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) attacked pilgrims in July 2017. The government is not risking anything and hence, a strong security arrangement has been put in place even as Home Minister Amit Shah visits the state. 

In addition, Shah has also planned to chair meetings with the gram sabha and the BJP workers. Furthermore, Shah will also visit SHO Arshad Khan's family. Khan was martyred in the Anantnag Terror attack. Overall, the primary reason for the new HM is to review the security in the state. 

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Meanwhile, Shah tabled the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Bill in the 17th Lok Sabha. The bill proposes to give reservation to educational institutions and government jobs to those living within 10 km of the International Border in Jammu, with people living along the Line of Control in Kashmir. Earlier, the bill had been enforced as an ordinance after the Union Cabinet had approved 'The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019' on February 28, which was later cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The bill will now allow amendments to be made in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, in order to bring reservation for people near the border similar to the reservation provided to the people residing in areas near the Actual Line of Control.

The bill will empower the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are from economically weaker sections of the society irrespective of their caste or religion.

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