President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir extended by six months effective from June 20

President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir will be extended for six more months beginning June 20 and the Union Cabinet Wednesday gave its nod in this effect, Union minister Prakash Javedkar said.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for the extension of the central rule which has been continuing in Jammu and Kashmir since June 20, 2018.

"Yes, it has been decided," Javadekar told reporters when asked whether the Cabinet gave its nod to extend President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the Union Cabinet's nod, President Ram Nath Kovind will sign the proclamation for imposition of President's rule in the state and it will come into effect on June 20, a home ministry official said. 

After 1996, President’s rule in J&K was imposed in the terror-hit state last year. The gazette notification issued by President Ram Nath Kovind in December last year had referred to a report from Governor Satya Pal Malik. The Governor in his order had stated that he was ‘satisfied’ with the President's rule and it was needed in the state.

Malik in his report to the Centre had cited the “impossibility of forming a stable government by the coming together of political parties with opposing political ideologies”. The extension of President’s rule for another six months will also give security forces free hand to go after terrorists  and separatists in the Valley.