#KashmirParFinalFight: Article 370 revoked; One nation, One citizenship

New Delhi: Writing a new history to Jammu-Kashmir's fate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on August 05, moved to repeal the Article 370 in Rajya Sabha, which bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir in to two i.e making Ladakh a separate Union Territory without legislation and Jammu-Kashmir Union Territory now with legislature.

Ladakh has now been declared an Union territory. Making 28 states and 8 Union territories in India. The list of Union Territories is now up by two more, making the list consist of Puducherry, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Delhi, Ladakh, and Jammu-Kashmir Union Territory (with legislature).

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Highlights of the Jammu-Kashmir issue:

-Pakistan's move on scrapping down Jammu and Kashmir's special status, says it is an internationally-recognised disputed territory, no unilateral step can change this disputed status, "Pakistan strongly condemns and rejects the announcements made today by the Indian Government regarding the "Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir". The "Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir" is an internationally recognised disputed territory, no unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps. Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of "Occupied Jammu and Kashmir" for realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination," read the the official statement from Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

-The BJP in Goa on Monday welcomed the Centre's decision on Article 370, saying it was a long pending demand of "true patriotic Indians".

- Terming the revoking of Article 370 a "catastrophic step", the Congress accused the BJP of taking the decision "for votes" and said it marks a "black day" in the constitutional history of India.

-Making the announcement in Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the UT in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh while the other UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.

-Shah introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill.

-Acrimonious scenes were seen in the House soon after the announcement of the Home Minister.

-Shah retorted that people of Jammu and Kashmir were living in poverty and corruption because of Article 370.

-Three families have looted the state for years, he said noting that Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India on October 27, 1947 but Article 370 came in 1949. "It is not true that Jammu and Kashmir joined India because of Article 370," he said.

-Article 370 was always temporary and past governments did not remove it because of lack of political will and vote bank politics, he said.

-Shah in his resolution said, "...the President, on the recommendation of Parliament, is pleased to declare that, as from 5th of August, 2019, all clauses of the said article 370 shall cease to be operative except clause (1) thereof."

-Showing the displeasure, PDP members torn their clothes in the parliament. Soon after Shah's announcement, one of the PDP members tore his clothes and then along with another PDP member tore copies of the Constitution, prompting Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to order that they be physically removed.

-Home Minister's announcement evoked strong protests from the opposition with leaders of Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, NCP and Left raising slogans and storming the well of the House. They later squatted in the well and continued with their protest.

-However, some regional parties like BSP, BJD, TRS and AIADMK extended full support to the resolution and the bill while NDA constituent JD(U) walked out.

- BJP leader, Amit Shah proposed a move to scrape the Article 370 in RS today, creating a ruckus in the house.

-The convoy of high profile leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was the first to reach the PM house, where the meeting is taking place.

-The situation in the valley has been quite tensed since a large number of additional security forces has been deployed to the state, where as the tourists were asked to return from J-K , last week.

-Adding fuel to the rumors, house arrest of three mainstream and top J-K leaders, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone, on Sunday night, and imposition of section 144 in Srinagar has made the situation worst in the state.

-Few hours after his house arrest, the former chief minister, Omar Abdullah urged people to stay calm, "While I’ve been focused on Kashmir I must add a word for people in Kargil, Ladakh & Jammu. I’ve no idea what is in store for our state but it doesn’t look good."

-The National Conference leader also commented on the decision to put a few leaders under house arrest. "How ironic that elected representatives like us who fought for peace are under house arrest. The world watches as people & their voices are being muzzled in J&K. The same Kashmir that chose a secular democratic India is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude. Wake up India."

-Hours before his house arrest, Omar had tweeted, “I believe I’m being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is, then I’ll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us.”

-All the mobile Internet services have been suspended in Kashmir Valley, while, satellite phones were being provided to police officials and district magistrates. Public movement has been barred, whereas, all the educational institutions have been closed. Even TV networks and landlines are not working. There will also be a complete bar on any kind of public meetings or rallies.

-This Cabinet meet, which has now been arranged in a hush-hush manner, normally meets on every Wednesday. The reasons for convening a meeting on Monday has not been disclosed by the government yet.

-All these chain of events, hint at a bigger plan by the Centre and give rise to speculation that BJP wants to scrap down the legislation, giving Jammu and Kashmir special status and exclusive rights to the state's residents in government jobs and land.

-Condemning the rising tensions in the valley, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said his party will raise the issue in the Parliament today and will seek clarification from PM Modi. Blaming BJP for murdering democracy in the valley he said, "What sort of politics is the BJP indulging in here? Democracy is being murdered in Jammu and Kashmir."

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-The Kashmir issue is reported to be discussed in Rajya Sabha at 11 am today, whereas, Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, and Bhubaneswar Kalita had given Adjournment Motion notice in the upper house over the issue. Apart from them, Lok Sabha members Manish Tewari, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K Suresh have also given adjournment motion notice to the House. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over Kashmir issue.

-To show their protest, PDP's Rajya Sabha MPs Nazir Ahmad Laway and Mir Mohammad Fayaz donned black bands before entering the Parliament.

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