Amit Shah proposes scrapping of Article 370, bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir

Article 370 allows Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.

As per the bill which is about to be brought by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in parliament, Jammu and Kashmir will be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly.

In his statement, Shah said, "There has been a long pending demand of people of Ladakh, to give it a status of a Union Territory to enable them to realise their aspirations. The Union Territory of Ladakh will be without Legislature.

Further, keeping in view the prevailing internal security situation, fuelled by cross border terrorism in the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, a separate Union Territory for Jammu and Kashmir is being created. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be with legislature."

Also the BJP government is set to move the Jammu and Kashmir reservation bill in Parliament, Shah said amid noisy scenes in the upper house.

The home minister made the announcement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a cabinet meeting at his residence this morning on the Kashmir situation.

Tension prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir as the central government imposed  Section 144 of the CRPC in Srinagar with effect from August 5 and even with several top leaders in the Valley, including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, being put under house arrest since midnight.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti, a former BJP ally, tweeted, "Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K."

"It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising it’s people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises."

She added, "People like us who placed faith in Parliament, the temple of democracy have been deceived. Those elements in J&K who rejected the constitution & sought resolution under the UN have been vindicated. This will exacerbate the alienation Kashmiris feel."