Article 370 to be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir, Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

Article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir will be removed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha today. The Opposition-led by the Congress said that the timing of the such a resolution was not right. “Entire valley is under curfew, political leaders including three former chief ministers are under house arrest. There is a war like situation in the state, so this should be discussed on priority,” Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. To this Shah replied, “I am ready for all discussions by the leader of the Opposition, the entire opposition and the members of the ruling party over Kashmir issue. I am ready to answer all questions.”

Even as the chaos and chants fill the air in Upper House, there is report coming in the Article 35A has been scrapped in Jammu and Kashmir with President Ram Nath Kovind’s nod. In another big move, Jammu and Kashmir has been declared as Union Territory. It will have its own legislature. Amit Shah has proposed that Ladakh to be a Union Territory as well minus the legislature.

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.