The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation, 2019 Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. The legislation will divide the frontier state into two union territories -- one comprising of Jammu and Kashmir regions, and the other being Ladakh which includes the districts of Leh and Kargil.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has accused the ruling BJP of breaching its "constitutional promise" in Jammu & Kashmir, despite living up to its electoral promise."I stand to oppose the bill. Definitely BJP has lived up to electoral promise in their manifesto, but you have not lived up to your constitutional duties. You've indulged in breach of a constitutional promise," he said while opposing the law to bifurcate J&K," he said.
"We all remember the last time PM unleashed a decision to the nation which was also initially applauded for his decisiveness,just like today and that was the disaster of demonetisation. Nation is still dealing with devastating consequences of that action," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Lok Sabha.
"Kashmir’s mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional & undemocratic. It’s also short sighted and foolish because it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vacuum created by GOI. The imprisoned leaders must be released (sic)," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
National Conference lawmaker Hasnain Masoodi, while opposing the Centre's resolution on Article 370 dilution, said the law which gave special status to Jammu & Kashmir was enacted with the "blessing" of Jan Sangh ideologue and founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted his claim, asking Masoodi to either provide evidence before the House or apologise for his statement.
None except two political families will be affected by the revocation of special status under Article 370, said BJP MP from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering.Update by ANI:
Jamyang Tsering, BJP MP from Ladakh in Lok Sabha on #Article370Revoked: What will be lost with this decision? Sirf do pariwar rozi-roti khoyenge aur Kashmir ka bhavishya ujjwal hone wala hai. pic.twitter.com/Jb4AMLQnOa— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
Amit Shah, while responding to NCP MP Supriya Sule's demand to include former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah into the debate over Article 370 dilution, said none among the J&K political leaders have been indiscriminately cracked down upon."Farooq Abdullah has neither been detained nor arrested. He's at his home,out of his own free will," the Home Minister said.
"When the country is celebrating, Congress is speaking in the voice of Pakistan. Pakistan government official statement said it's a dark day. Congress leaders have stated it's a dark day. What does it mean? Pak says it's a dark day and you're joining them," questioned BJP MP and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi.
The Janata Dal (United) has walked out of the Parliament as the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 got tabled by the government in Lok Sabha.Update by ANI:
JDU walks out of Lok Sabha over J&K Re-organisation Bill pic.twitter.com/hXeDZ7PtNw— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
Union Minister of State (MoS), PMO, Jitendra Singh lashed out at the Opposition for questioning the government over the "lack of consultation" with stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir.In an apparent reference to Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik -- the three joint resistance leaders of Kashmir -- Singh said his government will consult the 130 crore Indians rather than only speaking to "3 persons" in the Valley.
New Delhi, August 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday moved the resolution in Lok Sabha to modify Article 370, which would end up revoking the special status granted to Jammu & Kashmir. While addressing the House, Shah said Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin is included when he refers to J&K.
Shah's response came after Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha, accused the government of "betraying" the people of PoK and Aksai Chin by unilaterally changing the status quo and reorganising the territory of J&K. Kashmir Special Status Scrapped, Amit Shah Promises Speedy Development in Next 5 Years
"I don't think you are thinking about PoK, you violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight," Chowdhury said. This prompted a furious response from Shah who said that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the territorial integrity of Kashmir.
"Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of Union of India. PoK is part of Kashmir's territorial integrity...We can sacrifice our lives for this," Shah said. "When I say Jammu & Kashmir in the Parliament, I refer to PoK and Aksai Chin as well," the Home Minister added.
Here is What Amit Shah Said:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Lok Sabha: Main sadan mein jab jab Jammu and Kashmir rajya bola hoon tab tab Pakistan occupied Kashmir aur Aksai Chin dono iska hissa hain, ye baat hai. pic.twitter.com/Juft5KViMw
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
The Congress, which had issued a chief whip to its lawmakers, continued to pose stringent questions to the government. Chowdhury asked the Home Minister to explain why his External Affairs counterpart S Jaishankar had referred to Kashmir as a bilateral issue during his recent meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"S Jaishankar told Mike Pompeo a few days before that Kashmir is a bilateral matter, so don't interfere in it. Can J&K still be an internal matter? We want to know. Entire Congress party wants to be enlightened by you," he said.
"You say that it is an internal matter. But it is being monitored since 1948 by the UN, is that an internal matter? We signed Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration, what that an internal matter or bilateral," the Behrampur MP said.
Congress lawmaker from Anandpur Sahib, Manish Tewari, who had issued the notice for debate on the issue, said the revocation of Article 370 without the recommendation of state assembly would set a wrong precedent. "Won't you repeal Article 371 -- which guarantees special status to northeastern states -- in the future," he asked.