Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced today, in Rajya Sabha, that Article 370 would be revoked for Jammu & Kashmir, and it will now be treated as a Union Territory under legislature.
Article 370 scrapped, Jammu and Kashmir will now be Union Territory
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) August 5, 2019
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/lLPKwxph55 pic.twitter.com/UP2OhU1CpZ
His announcement was met with uproar in Rajya Sabha and left Twitter divided as well. However, even prior to the announcement, the situation in Kashmir has been extremely tense for a few days.
In fact, prominent political leaders, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, and Sajad Lone, were also placed under house arrest.
I believe I’m being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I’ll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us 🙏🏼
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2019
Already under house arrest & not allowed to have visitors either. Not sure how long I’ll be able to communicate. Is this the India we acceded to?
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
Detained yet again. first detained in Delhi. Then in Sringar in 1990. Those detention centres were very harsh. Our workers r being sought by the police. My prayers with them. And hope they stay calm.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) August 4, 2019
In response to Amit Shah’s announcement, the leaders have released their statements regarding the abrogation of Article 370.
Omar Abdullah, Vice-President of National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, stated that the decision to scrap Article 370 was ‘unilateral, illegal, and unconstitutional’.
Statement of Omar Abdullah, Vice-President of National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, on revoking of Article 370 and other decisions announced by Government of India. pic.twitter.com/L9RXggb10k
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
The scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A raise fundamental questions on the State’s accession because that was done on the very terms enunciated in these articles. The decisions are unilateral, illegal, and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference.
In a series of tweets, President of the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, and former CM Mehbooba Mufti called this the ‘ darkest day in Indian democracy’.
She also tweeted that there would be ‘catastrophic consequences’ to this decision.
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.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
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.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
What did J&K get for acceding to India? Another partition along communal lines? Our special status isn’t a gift bestowed upon us. Its a right guaranteed by the same 🇮🇳 parliament. A contract entered into by J&K leadership & India. Today the very same contract has been violated
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
Sajad Lone, President Peoples Conference, is yet to release an official statement on the issue.
