NEW DELHI – In India, the BJP government has revoked Article 370 of theconstitution through a presidential order, ending the special status givento state of Occupied Kashmir.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind issued the Constitution (Application toJammu and Kashmir) Order 2019 today, which has superseded the Constitution(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order 1954.
Under the order, the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has been abolishedand it has been made a Union Territory under the Indian Federation.
Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution guarantee special statusand special rights to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and all powers,except defence, foreign affairs, and communication, rest with the StateLegislature.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah told the Upper House of the parliamentRajiya Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory withlegislature, and it is no more a State. He also announced that Ladakh willalso be union territory without legislature.
Amit Shah also announced that Jammu and Kashmir would be re-organizedgeographically.
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Rajiya Sabha witnessed complete rumpus as Amit Shah made the announcementand the opposition benches strongly resisted the move.
Leader of the Opposition from Occupied Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad denouncedthe move and said that Jammu and Kashmir is already under a state of curfewand all political leaders have been put under house arrest.
Ghulam Nabi Azad said there is a war like situation in Occupied Kashmir.
