Rajya Sabha passes bill to turn Jammu and Kashmir into UTs, axes Article 370 | Highlights

By scrapping Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) founder Syama Prasad Mukherjees dream who had fought against special status to Jammu and Kashmir stressing one nation, one symbol and one Prime Minister".

It had been a constant struggle since then for the BJS and its reincarnation the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as removal of Article 370 was at its ideological core.

Mukherjee was against J&K having its own "sadr-e-riasat' (head of state) and flag. 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is following with concern the tense situation in the India-Pakistan region and urges all parties to exercise restraint, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday.

"We are following with concern the tense situation in the region... We urge all parties to exercise restraint," Dujarric said at the daily press briefing, adding that the UN is also aware of reports of restrictions in Kashmir in India. 

Dujarric was responding to a question on whether the Secretary General has any comment on India's decision to revoke Kashmir's special status and the Pakistani's response that this is a violation of UNSC resolutions calling for a UN-organised plebiscite.

Army's Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh meets J-K Governor Satya Pal Malik, briefs him about security situation in state.

The Left parties have lashed out at the government for revoking Article 370, saying that it was the "murder of democracy" and will serve to only to further "alienate" the people of the region.

The national capital is on high alert to ensure no untoward incident occurs after the government on Monday decided to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

With the upcoming Independence Day celebrations the police and security agencies are on an alert. Police officials have been asked to ensure safety of Kashmiri students residing in the capital.

The Delhi Metro too issued a fresh advisory to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in the mass-rapid rail network that runs across the National Capital Region and carries lakhs of commuters everyday.

The Union Home ministry directed the Delhi police to be on maximum alert so as to pre-empt and prevent any breach of security or public order.

Security was also beefed up at the Delhi Airport, railway stations and ISBTs. Further police presence was increased in areas which have high footfall.

The Congress party has issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House tomorrow.

"This day will be seen as a historic day in our life. A mistake committed regarding Kashmir by the then government has been corrected by today's government. Modi jee and Amit bhai [Shah] have truly made Kashmir an integral part of India," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says.

News agency PTI says Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference leaders Sajjad Lone and Imran Ansari have also been arrested.

Hindu Pandits who have been displaced from the Kashmir Valley on Monday hailed the decision to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said they hoped this will help them return to their lost homes.

"This is certainly a historical and bold decision. The people of Kashmir will soon get closer to the government of India and this will boost the economy of the two newly formed Union Territories," said Manoj Bhan, a member of Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch.

"We must congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing a historic measure. I hope this fulfils our dream of getting back to the Valley," said Satish Mahaldar, another Pandit leader.

From what we know, NSA Ajit Doval is in Srinagar right now

The Aligarh Muslim University has issued an advisory to its Kashmiri students, asking them not to move out of the campus as a precautionary measure.

The advisory was issued during a meeting of provosts on Monday, which was attended by vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor also.

India has briefed the envoys of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and several other nations about its decision to scrap Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the state.

In the briefings, it was conveyed that the decisions were internal to India and they are aimed at providing good governance, promoting social justice and ensuring economic development in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

It was learnt that Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed the envoys of the US, Britain, France, China and Russia, the five permanent members of the UNSC.

OMAR AND MEHBOOBA HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A MAKE-SHIFT JAIL IN A GUEST HOUSE

OMAR ABDULLAH HAS ALSO BEEN ARRESTED

From what we hear, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has been arrested

THE RAJYA SABHA HAS PASSED THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR REORGANISATION BILL

Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019, passed in Rajya Sabha. This Bill is to implement 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in Jammu and Kashmir.

The news of the Union government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir brought cheers to the students of Jammu University as many of them broke into celebrations.

With Indian flag in their hands, some of the students termed the occasion as the collapse of the wall of hatred that Article 370 had erected. 

Celebrations also broke out in other states, including Telangana where people reportedly came out in the open to burst crackers to mark the occasion.

THE RAJYA SABHA HAS PASSED THE RESOLUTION TO SCRAP ARTICLE 370.

"It required guts to take the decision. And the maturity to rise above petty vote bank politics," Amit Shah says.

He adds: "We will transform Kashmir in five years."

1. Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) order, 2019: This is as per provisions of Article 370 (1). Exercising powers, President revoked Article 370. It shall come into force at once, and shall thereupon supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 as amended from time to time.

2. Resolution for Article 370: It ceases to exist, as per Article 370(3). In the present situation, simple majority of both the houses needed to pass the resolution. The expression "Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2)" shall read "Legislative Assembly of the State".

3. Bill for reorganisation of J&K: It is to reorganise the state into two separate Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will be without a legislature. The new J&K Union Territory will comprise the territories of current Jammu and Kashmir regions. The Governor of current J&K will be the Lt Governor of the J&K and Ladakh UTs.

The J&K Assembly will have a term of five years and will have 107 MLAs strength. Out of 107 MLAs, 24 seats will be left vacant of PoK region. The outgoing Assembly had 111 members, in which 87 were elected members, 2 were nominated, while 24 seats in PoK were left vacant. 

Rajya Sabha to continue to host four sitting members from current J&K. Five Lok Sabha seats have been allocated to J&K Union Territory and one for Ladakh UT. All the bills passed by the Assembly will be sent to LG for his consent. LG can give his assent, withhold it or send the bill for consideration of the President.

4. Bill for reservation of 10% for EWS in J&K: The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 for implementation of the 10 percent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in the state. After the bill is passed by the Parliament, all residents of the state with income below Rs 8 lakh per annum would benefit from 10 per cent quota. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 31. 

The proposed legislation could not be brought before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly which has been dissolved. Parliament has earlier passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which provides people living near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir to get the benefit of reservation in jobs, promotion, and educational institutions on par with those living along the Line of Control (LoC).

Will make J&K state again if the situation normalises, says Amit Shah in his reply to Rajya Sabha

"Ayushman Bharat scheme is there; but where are the hospitals? where are doctors and nurses in Kashmir? Those supporting 35A, please tell me which famous doctor will go and live there and practice? He can't own land or house nor his children can vote," Amit Shah says.

"The people of J&K do not get the benefits of government schemes like the rest of the country does. The students have to move to other states to study. It is the root of terrorism," Amit Shah says in Rajya Sabha.

From what we know, as Amit Shah began speaking, TMC staged walk out from Rajya Sabha

"We don't believe in politics of religion. Only Muslims live in Kashmir? What do you want to say? Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists -- all live there. If Article 370 is good, it is good for all; if it is bad then it is bad for all," Amit Shah says in Rajya Sabha.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has enthusiastically welcomed the Centre's decision to scrap the Constitution's Article 370, conferring special status for Jammu & Kashmir, saying "it fulfils the dream of the party founder-patriarch, the late Bal Thackeray".

"Shiv Sena has been long fighting for this. If Balasaheb had been alive today, he would have been very happy... His dream has come true with this," Thackeray told media persons at his home.

While Independence Day (August 15) is coming, with the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the country has secured "full independence", he added.

Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party has declared its whole-hearted support to the Centre's move to scrap the Constitution's Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The YSRCP made its stand clear in the Rajya Sabha after Home Minister Amit Shah presented a resolution to scrap Article 370 and divide the border state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

YSRCP parliamentary party leader V Vijayasai Reddy hailed the scrapping of Article 370 and termed it as a "courageous and daring" step by Amit Shah.

"My party and leader Jagan Mohan Reddy wholeheartedly support the move of the Home Minister and the Prime Minister," he said and hoped that this would completely solve problem of Jammu and Kashmir.

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani has hailed the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said this has been a part of the party's core ideology since the days of Jan Sangh.

In a statement, the former deputy prime minister said: "I am happy with the government's decision to revoke Article 370 and I believe that it is a bold step towards strengthening national integration.

"The scrapping of Article 370 has been a part of BJP's core ideology since the days of Jan Sangh."

Advani congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic initiative and prayed for peace, prosperity and progress in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

Former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has termed as a "momentous decision" the Central government revoking Article 370 and said it ends a huge ambiguity about Kashmir.

"This step ensures the completion of the integration of India started by Sardar Patel," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP and Congress chief whip Bhubaneshwar Kalita has resigned from the membership of the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced in the House that he has accepted Kalita's resignation.

The Haryana Assembly has passed by voice vote a resolution welcoming the Modi government's decision to revoke Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, with the opposition Congress too supporting it. 

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar moved the resolution hailing the Centre, Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision.

"The bill will definitely be passed and you know that because you know that you have numbers. You did not discuss Article 370 with Kashmir leaders, because you need numbers. Is this how a democracy runs?" Kapil Sibal says.

"It is something the country has been waiting for the last 70 years. Even our manifesto mentioned the need to abrogate Article 370, so it is not something we brought out suddenly like a rabbit from a magic hat," says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"Momentarily you may think you have scored a victory, but you are wrong and history will prove you to be wrong. Future generations will realize what a grave mistake this House is making today," Chidambaram continues.

Ramdas Athawale, known for his quirks, recites a poem: "I strongly support this bill, achchha ho jaayega J&K hill. Abb aatankwad ho jaayega nil, issiliye mujhe achchha ho raha hai feel...

Aaj ka din nahin hai kala, main pehnaata hoon PM Modi aur Amit Shah ko phoolon ki maala, abb aatankwad ka saaf ho jaayega naala...

Khatam ho rahi hai 370 dhaara, ab aatankwaad ka ho jaayega maara, jaag jaayega Jammu Kashmir saara."

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed the Punjab Police to be prepared to thwart any attempts by Pakistan to create disturbance in the state.

A meeting was held to review the law and order situation in the state in the wake of the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan may not take this lightly and could resort to some act against India," the chief minister said, asking the state police to be ready for any eventuality.

He has ordered increased security for the 8,000-odd Kashmiri students in Punjab, and directed superintendents of police and deputy commissioners to meet them and talk to them personally.

The chief minister has ordered scaling up of security in Punjab's districts that border Kashmir.

He reiterated his earlier directions to the police and the district administration to ensure smooth and safe movement of those leaving Kashmir via Punjab.

The border areas of the state have been on high alert for the past two days, since tourists and Amarnath yatris were asked to leave the Kashmir Valley, citing security concerns.

Pakistan has strongly rejected the Indian Government's decision to scrap Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and vowed to exercise all possible options, including appealing to the UN, to counter India's "illegal" and "unilateral" step. 

Reacting to the announcement, Pakistan Foreign Office said "Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory". 

"No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan," it said.

"I fear, PM Modi, you are pushing 100s of young men from joining this column to another column. I hope that does not happen," Chidambaram says in Rajya Sabha.

He adds: "You are dismembering a state. You are dividing J&K."

The BJP on Monday celebrated revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution by distributing ladoos and bursting firecrackers in Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla.

BJP workers led by education minister Suresh Bhardwaj and Shimla Mayor Kusum Sadrate gathered at Naaz Chowk near Mall road at 2.30 pm today to express their joy over revocation of the Article 370.

Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, Bhardwaj said "Today is a golden day for our country as Article 370 providing special status to Jammu and Kashmir has been revoked."

The government's efforts to get crucial provisions on Jammu and Kashmir passed in the Rajya Sabha got a boost with resignation of two more opposition leaders -- Samajwadi Party's Sanjay Seth and Congress chief whip Bhhubaneshwar Kalita.

Sanjay Seth, who played a key role in SP's alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party, is the latest from the party's flock to quit Rajya Sabha. Surendra Nagar and Neeraj Shekhar were the other two who quit recently. 

In the Delimitation exercise, the seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will be increased from 107 to 114, sources say.

Provisions under Article 239A that are applicable to Puducherry will also be applicable to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hindutva leader Pravin Togadia on Monday welcomed the Union government's decisions on Jammu and Kashmir as a "great milestone".

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha that Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special rights, has been scrapped with the President's assent and also moved a bill to divide the state into two Union territories.

"Congrats for the fantastic decision to abrogate 370 from J&K and make Ladakh separate from J&K as 2 separate Union Territories. Long pending dream &demand of HinduSthan fulfilled. Bravo!Sure,now Kashmiri Hindus would get their homes,land back&stay there safely," tweeted Togadia, who heads the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad.

"I congratulate PM Modiji & HM Amitbhai Shah for this great milestone," he said. 

Pakistan President Arif Alvi summoned a joint session of the Parliament on Tuesday, hours after the Indian government on Monday abolished Article 370 of the Constitution which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, according to a media report. The joint sitting, to be held at 11 am (local time) on Tuesday, will review the tense situation in Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control, Geo TV reported.

The Indian government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Reacting to the announcement, Pakistan Foreign Office said, "Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory" and "no unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status."

The FO also said that Pakistan will exercise all possible options "to counter the illegal steps."

The Indian move was also "strongly condemned" by Pakistani politicians, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif who termed it "unacceptable" and an "act of treason" against the United Nations.

Lawyers at Telangana High Court and Tis Hazari Court in New Delhi have been exalting at the move

"It's shameful that you have turned Jammu and Kashmir into a non entity by making a Lt Governor there, so that you can appoint even a peon or a clerk, sitting here," says senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

NSA Ajit Doval is expected to visit the Kashmir Valley on Monday evening, along with other senior security officials to review the situation on ground. NSA Doval had earlier visited Srinagar in last week of July before the implementation of decision to revoke Article 370.

Amit Shah moved the resolution to abolish Article 370 as well as the state reorganisation bill along with listed bills to extend reservation for economically weaker sections in educational institutions and government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

The reorganisation bill provides for formation of union territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with legislature.

While Naidu said only the bill for providing reservation is being moved now and the other would be done after it is circulated to members, the House in a voice vote approved the introduction.

Later Naidu allowed Shah to re-introduce the resolution and the reorganisation bill, saying copies have now been circulated to members.

Amid the ruckus, PDP members Nazir Ahmad Laway and Mir Mohammad Fayaz shouted slogans and tore posters. Laway even tore the 'kurta' he was wearing. Later as the protests heated up, the duo tore copies of the Constitution, prompting Naidu to order their eviction.

"The Indian Constitution is supreme. Nobody can do it," Naidu said as he named two members and ordered marshals to physically remove them from the House.

Before the marshals could do that, BJP leader Vijay Goel tried to intervene but was pushed back.

Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the entire Kashmir Valley is under curfew and three former chief ministers of the state and political leaders have been placed under house arrest.

He wanted the situation to be discussed first but Naidu allowed Shah to move the resolution.

Soon after Shah's announcement, one of the PDP members tore his clothes and then along with another PDP member tore copies of the Constitution, prompting Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to order that they be physically removed.

When the House met, Naidu said he had used his discretionary powers to waive the requirement of the government to give advance notice and circulate a bill as the issue was of urgent national importance.

Amit Shah informed the House that President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the official notification abrogating Article 370 and since the Jammu and Kashmir constituent assembly no longer exists and the state assembly stands dissolved, the powers of the assembly wrest with both Houses of Parliament.

"The President's order can be discussed and passed by both houses of Parliament," he told members.

A copy of the President's order was also distributed in the House. He also said that Article 370 can be abrogated through such an order, as there are provisions within the said Article to do so.

Reading out provisions of Article 370 (3), the Home Minister said there are provisions within that state that Article 370 shall cease to be operative or can be amended and the President has the right to issue such a notification or constitutional order.
 
"We are adopting the same path as adopted by the Congress in 1952 and 1962 by amending the provisions of Article 370 the same way through a notification," Shah told the House, after Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) sought to know if the Constitution can be amended without a Constitutional amendment.

"There are no merits in the opposition stand and they are opposing it only to do politics and are creating ruckus inside the House," he said.

Amit Shah received a standing ovation from his party colleagues when he entered the House minutes before proceedings in the Rajya Sabha commenced. He termed the move as "historical", saying Article 370 has not allowed integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the country.

The Home Minister said Article 370 will no longer be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.