The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989; the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000; and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.

The legislation is also intended to provide reservations to the other backward classes in the panchayats and municipalities in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and to bring consistency in the local bodies laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.

Earlier, moving the bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the OBCs had been ignored so far in J&K.

Describing the bill as progressive legislation, the minister said, After the abrogation of Article 370, J&K is on the path of development, and the OBC community will get reservations in local bodies through this legislation.".

Initiating the discussion, Jasbir Singh Gill of Congress said the OBC quota in J&K local bodies is a good move. The Congress leader, however, demanded some provisions for the representation of minority Sikhs in local bodies in the UT.

Participating in the discussion, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MP from Jammu, described the bill as "historic" and accused the Congress, NC, and PDP of not doing justice to the OBC community in the UT.

Earlier, a huge ruckus broke out in Lok Sabha on Tuesday after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP TR Baalu called Union MoS L Murugan 'unfit to be a minister'.

The ruckus erupted when a discussion during Question Hour on damages caused by natural disasters was underway.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party termed it an insult to the entire Dalit community.

Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the DMK MP cannot call their colleague 'unfit'.

"Sir, it is not right to call an SC minister unfit. This is an insult to a Dalit. We want Baalu to apologize," Meghwal said.

Later, not satisfied with the answer of the government on damage caused by natural calamities in Tamil Nadu, the members of the DMK and Congress staged a walk-out from the House.

(With UNI inputs)