Article 370 in Lok Sabha: 'Farooq Abdullah has been arrested,' Dayanidhi Maran's startling claim

As the Narendra Modi government and the Opposition parties debated the Article 370 in the Lok Sabha, DMK lawmaker Dayanidhi Maran made a startling claim that may have far-reaching effect on the volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir. During the discussion, Maran claimed that National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, who is also Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, is missing. He later claimed that ‘Abdullah has been arrested.’ Maran further said that, “we have no intimation. You (Om Birla) as a Speaker should protect the members. You should be neutral.” Farooq Abdullah was last holding an all-party meet at his Srinagar residence over the weekend. After that, in the backdrop of unprecedented troop build-up, the Narendra Modi government scrapped the Article 370 and 35A that granted special status and power to the administration of Jammu and Kashmir. (KASHMIR LIVE UPDATES)

The DMK has maintained its opposition of Modi government’s Kashmir decision. Strongly condemning the Centre's move to revoke Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the DMK leadership said it was a "murder of democracy". DMK president MK Stalin had said the measures should be held back till a democratically-elected government assumed office in the state. Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran said people's sentiments should have been respected and the government should have take a decision after holding a referendum.

In an unprecedented move that is likely to spark unrest in the Valley, the Narendra Modi government on Monday scrapped part of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha for bringing a bill to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh amid a walkout by opposition parties.

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