Jammu & Kashmir is integral part of India: Amit Shah

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The Government today moved the statutory resolution in the Lok Sabha to scrap the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

The Lok Sabha has taken up the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, 2019 for consideration and passing. The Bill seeks to make Jammu and Kashmir a Union Territory with legislature and Ladakh, a Union Territory without legislature.

Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Jammu and Kashmir resolution and the reorganisation Bill in the House. Jammu and Kashmir reservation (Second Amendment) Bill 2019 was also moved in the House.

The Rajya Sabha has already adopted the resolution and passed the Bill on Monday.

Speaking on the resolution and the Bills, Amit Shah said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India which includes Pakistan occupied Kashmir also.

He said the resolution and the  Bill will ensure that J&K remains with India forever. He also rejected the allegation that it is a political move. He asserted that Parliament has full powers to make laws for the entire country and the constitution of India and the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir both allow for this.

He also said the scrapping of Article 370 will end the bloody war in Jammu and Kashmir. He said Article 370 and Article 35 A is responsible for lack of development, corruption and root cause of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the accusation of Congress to break rules in this regard, Mr Shah asked Congress to stop blaming and clear their stand on Jammu & Kashmir. Home Minister also explained the rule position in this regard to the Lok Sabha. He said no one can stop us from making laws for Jammu & Kashmir.

Replying to questions from some members, Home Minister said that whenever he mentions Jammu & Kashmir, it includes Pak Occupied Kashmir and Aksai chin also. He said we can lay our lives for Jammu & Kashmir.

Talking about the reorganization bill, the minister said converting Ladakh to Union Territory was a long-standing demand. When the Home Minister was moving the resolution and bill, there were heated arguments between him and opposition members.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the government to move on the issue.

Participating in the discussion, Congress leader Manish Tewari questioned the way in which the central government steamrolled the decision and sprang a surprise on the people of Kashmir. Hitting out at the government, Mr Tewari said it is a Constitutional Tragedy.

T R Balu of DMK also raised fingers on the Centre. Questioning the government move, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said no atrocities should take place in Jammu and Kashmir. TMC later staged a walkout.

Intervening in the debate, union minister Jitender Singh hailed government move and termed it as a historic day.

Discussion is underway.
NDA ally JD(U) has opposed the government move to scrap the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. 

Participating in the debate, party MP Rajeev Ranjan Singh said the government should have focused on fighting against terrorism instead of touching the controversial Article related to Jammu and Kashmir. 

He said his party has a clear view which was mentioned in the NDA agenda of governance that such controversial issues will be dealt with through consensus. He said JD(U) is against the government decision. Later, protesting against it, JD(U) members staged a walkout.

On the other hand, BJD lent unequivocal support to the government. Party leader Pinaki Mishra said Article 370 was always intended to be transient and these were legacy issues which needed to be ironed out. He asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to place trust in the Centre.

Intervening in the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said it is unfortunate that Congress party is opposing the Bill when the entire country is rejoicing. 

He accused Congress of speaking in Pakistan’s voice by terming it a dark day for democracy. He said Article 370 was ed in the Constitution despite Dr BR Ambedkar’s opposition and Narendra Modi government wants to correct this historical blunder. Supporting the government decision, Nama Nageshwar Rao of TRS lauded it. 

Meanwhile. the government clarified that National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has neither been arrested nor detained. Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha that Mr Abdullah is at his home on his own wish. 

Earlier, participating in the debate, NCP leader Supriya Sule had raised the issue of Farooq Abdullah’s absence from the House, saying the debate on Kashmir will be incomplete without his participation.