New Delhi, August 5:  Following Union Home minister Amit Shah's historic announcement, where he declared that Article 370, which grants special status to people of Jammu and Kashmir to be scrapped, Presidential order to this effect has been released. According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 7 on this matter. Jammu and Kashmir no Longer a State; in Historic Move by Modi Govt, J&K to be Union Territory With Legislative Assembly, Ladakh to be UT Without One.

This announcement thus bifurcates Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. While Jammu and Kashmir will now be a Union Territory with a legislative assembly, Ladakh will be a UT without one. Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hailed the government's decision to remove Article 370 and showered praises at PM and Shah for 'correcting a historical blunder'. "A historical wrong has been undone today. Article 35A came through the back door without following the procedure under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. It had to go," he says. Article 370 Revoked, Jammu and Kashmir Loses Statehood: Mehbooba Mufti Calls it 'Darkest Day in Indian Democracy', Here's Who said What on Amit Shah's Announcement.

Following Shah's announcement, there was a huge uproar in the Rajya Sabha and it was objected by the Opposition parties. Mehbooba Mufti called it the darkest day in the Indian democracy, and Ghulam Nabi Azad also protested the government's move and called it the murder of Constitution.

Watch video:

The removal of this part of the constitution ends special status for Kashmir, which was key to its accession to India in 1947. The Union Cabinet met today, following the political turmoil and rising tension in Kashmir after Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah was placed under house arrest. Section 144 was imposed since Monday morning, and schools and colleges are shut and internet services have been suspended from August 5, till further orders come.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 05, 2019 12:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).