• Source:JND
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India on Friday responded to Pakistan’s comments on the provision related to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in India’s Delimitation Bill. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India rejects any attempt by other countries to interfere in its internal issues or make comments on them. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

India Rejects Pak’s Remarks On Delimitation Bill

At a weekly press briefing, Jaiswal stated that the delimitation exercise is an internal matter of India and no other country has the right to interfere in it. He said, “On the delimitation exercise, the internal matters of India are internal matters of India, and we reject any attempts to intrude into them or make any such remarks.”

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What Had Islamabad Said?

New Delhi’s reaction came after Pakistan reacted to the proposal, saying it doesn't accept any process linked to PoK. Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Islamabad had seen media reports about the Bill and rejected what it called India’s “so-called delimitation process” in Jammu and Kashmir. He described it as “illegal political grandstanding” in a “disputed territory” and said India has no legal authority to make such changes.

Lok Sabha Seats To Increase

The Bill proposes delimitation of constituencies in J&K, which may include areas under Pakistan’s occupation. It also proposes increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to around 850, with 272 seats reserved for women. Earlier on Thursday, addressing the lower house, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal explained that the expansion is designed so that no state loses its existing representation. He emphasised that there will be no reduction in any state’s current strength, addressing concerns that some regions might lose representation due to the changes.

"There will be an equal, 50 per cent increase in the strength of Lok Sabha members, and this will translate to 815 seats, of which 272 will be reserved for women, which comes to one-third of the strength of the House. There will be no loss to anyone, and they will retain their strength," Meghwal said.

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