A private member's bill by People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para seeking 16 new districts and two divisions in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked a row with the ruling National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling it a 'sabotage bill'.
The bill, 'The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganization Bill, 2026', proposes the creation of new administrative divisions, including a Chenab Division with headquarters in Doda and a Pir Panjal Division with headquarters in Rajouri.
Currently, the two regions have 10 districts each, and the proposed legislation calls for the creation of eight new districts each in the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
NC has called it a 'sabotage bill', while BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said the proposed bill smacks of a sinister agenda, toeing the line of Pakistan's ISI, which wants to create 'greater Kashmir'.
Assembly speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said LG accepting a private member's bill is routine, but the government's stand will be known only when the bill comes up in the house.
