Srinagar: PDP MLA Waheed Para’s private member’s bill proposing creation of 16 new districts in Jammu and Kashmir and two additional divisions in Jammu has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling NC as well as the opposition BJP, who have questioned the intention behind the proposed law.The NC said the bill was “a deliberate attempt to subvert the government’s intention of awakening public opinion and empowering the sub-sectors”. The BJP described the proposal as divisive and alleged that it was in line with Pakistan and ISI’s plan to create ‘Greater Kashmir’.Parra presented the Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganization Bill to the Assembly Secretariat, which proposes new administrative divisions and districts in the union territory to “improve governance and administrative accessibility”.The bill seeks to create two new divisions in Jammu – Chenab and Pir Panjal. There is also a proposal to create eight additional districts each in Kashmir and Jammu. At present, Jammu and Kashmir has two divisions, Jammu and Kashmir, each consisting of 10 districts.The bill has gained popularity on social media, sparking debate and forcing political parties to respond. NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the PDP’s move to bring the resolution, while the government is working towards empowerment of the sub-regions, shows a different intention. Alleging that this was indicative of an attempt at sabotage, he questioned why the Mehbooba Mufti-led party was discussing new districts and divisions despite lacking the legislative strength to carry out the proposals.During the PDP-BJP tenure in 2016-17, similar recommendations made by an expert committee were rejected by the government. “Now when the NC government is planning to empower the sub-regions, the PDP is bringing such bills to create distrust among the people,” he said, terming it a “sabotaging bill”.BJP alleged that the proposals given in the bill are related to the agenda of ISI. “The bill proposes two additional divisions for Jammu – one comprising Kishtwar and Doda, and the other Rajouri and Poonch. They are referring to these as the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions. We do not accept these terms. This was part of the ISI design in the 1990s to merge these Muslim-majority areas with Kashmir and create ‘Greater Kashmir’.” The PDP is working on the same agenda. We will not allow this,” said BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur.Pointing out that Kashmir traditionally has three regions called Maraz (South Kashmir), Kamaraj (North Kashmir), and Central Kashmir, he asked: “Why don’t they create three divisions here too? Why do they want to break only Jammu?”However, Thakur said there could be a case for creating three new districts in Kashmir and if needed, the three existing police districts in the Valley could be upgraded to full districts.