Srinagar, March 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday called upon the government to clarify its position on the significant private member’s bill introduced by party legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, which proposes administrative reorganisation including the creation of new divisions and districts across the Union Territory.
The bill, which has received approval from the Lieutenant Governor for consideration, seeks to address long-standing regional disparities by decentralising governance and ensuring that administrative mechanisms reach the most remote and underserved areas of Jammu and Kashmir. It lays particular emphasis on far-flung regions across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Gurez, Karnah and Uri in Kashmir, and Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Bani and Basohli in the Jammu region—areas that continue to face challenges due to terrain, connectivity and administrative distance.
PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said the development has placed the responsibility firmly on the elected government to take a clear and transparent stand.
“This is a defining moment for the government. The bill represents a serious attempt to bring governance closer to the people and correct decades of administrative imbalance. With the Lieutenant Governor granting approval, the onus is now on the government to decide whether it stands with the people of far-flung regions of both Kashmir and Jammu or chooses to act as a roadblock to their empowerment,” Bhan said.
He added that the proposed reorganisation is not merely an administrative adjustment but a crucial step towards inclusive governance, ensuring that people in remote districts and border belts are not left behind.
“From Gurez and Karnah in north Kashmir to Kishtwar, Doda, Bani, Basohli and Poonch in Jammu, people have long demanded administrative accessibility and fair representation. Governance cannot remain centralised and distant in a region as diverse and geographically challenging as Jammu and Kashmir. This bill offers a roadmap for equitable and participatory administration. The government must come clear on whether it supports such decentralisation or intends to oppose it,” he said.
Bhan further stated that the silence of the ruling dispensation, led by the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, raises serious concerns and underscores the need for accountability.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a clear answer. Are they in favour of empowering regions like Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal, Kupwara, Bandipora, Rajouri, Poonch, Bani and Basohli, or are they against this proposal? There can be no ambiguity on an issue that directly impacts governance and public access to administration,” he added.
The PDP reiterated that the bill presents a crucial opportunity to address structural inequities and urged the government to engage with it constructively in the larger public interest, stating that this remains a key test of its commitment to grassroots empowerment and balanced regional development.
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