#Article370: Jammu and Kashmir bifurcated, Ladakh, J&K to be UTs
What's the story
In a historic move, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday proposed scrapping of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. As Opposition parties staunchly opposed this decision ignoring Chairman Venakiah Naidu's pleas, Shah added that J&K and Ladakh will be two separate Union Territories. As per Shah's proposal, J&K will be a Union Territory with a legislature. Here's more.
Details
Ladakh will not have a legislature
To note, Ladakh will not have a legislature. "The Ladakh Division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir has a large area but is sparsely populated with a very difficult terrain. There has been a long pending demand of people of Ladakh to give it the status of a Union Territory to enable them to realize their aspirations," Shah's notification read.
Aftermath
PDP leaders tried to tear Constitution apart
After Shah made the mega announcement, two PDP MPs Mir Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway did the unthinkable by attempting to tear the Constitution. Condemning their action, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "We stand by the Constitution of India. Hum Hindustan ke samvidhaan ki raksha ke liye jaan ki baazi laga denge, but today BJP has murdered Constitution."
Twitter Post
Unruly PDP MPs were asked to leave the House
According to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, PDP's Mir Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway were asked to go out of the house(Rajya Sabha) after they attempted to tear the constitution pic.twitter.com/oOEI1MpFld
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
Reaction
India has failed Kashmir: Mehbooba Mufti after announcement
Meanwhile, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is under house arrest, condemned Centre's move. The former Chief Minister wrote, "People like us who placed faith in Parliament, the temple of democracy have been deceived." She opined this announcement will have "catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent". "They want the territory of J&K by terrorizing its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises," she added.
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Is this the India we acceded to, asked Mufti
Already under house arrest not allowed to have visitors either. Not sure how long I’ll be able to communicate. Is this the India we acceded to?
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019