Article 370, 35A scrapped: PM Narendra Modi likely to address nation shortly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address nation today. The announcement comes on a day when the Union Home Minister Amit Shah proposed the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Shah moved a resolution in Rajya Sabha that all clauses of Article370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will not be applicable in the state. Making a statement, Shah said this will come into effect when the President signs gives assent and the central government notifies it. The Upper House witnessed massive uproar soon after the announcement of the Home Minister. The step would also mean revocation of a bar on property purchases by people from outside Jammu and Kashmir. The Monday’s historic announcement comes amid crackdown in the Valley. Telephone and internet services were suspended early on Monday, and state leaders wrote on Twitter that they had been put under house arrest.

The proposals come amid the tense troop deployment and lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir over the weekend. On Sunday, authorities of the Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night imposed the Section-144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits gathering of more than four people at a time. An advisory by the Jammu and Kashmir government said, "there shall be no movement of public and all educational institutions shall also remain closed". It added that there will be a complete bar on holding any kind of public meetings or rallies during the period of operation of this order.  

With the historic proposals, the BJP has fulfilled its poll promise. On May 12, BJP President Amit Shah had said that the Article 370, which gives special powers to Kashmir will be scrapped if Narendra Modi is elected as prime minister again.