Modi's govt takes historic decision, scraps Article 370

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced in Rajya Sabha that the government scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to J&K.

He said that Article 370 was scrapped through Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order 2019, signed by President Ram Nath Kovind.This historic decision has been proposed in Rajyasabha, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial meeting of the high-powered Cabinet Committee on Security at his residence at the 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday.

While making the announcement on bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah explained, "The Ladakh Division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir has a large area but is sparsely populated with very difficult terrain. There has been a long pending demand of people of Ladakh, to give it the status of a Union Territory to enable them to realise their aspirations. The Union Territory of Ladakh will be without Legislature. "The home minister also said that two Lt Governors have been proposed, one for Jammu and Kashmir and one for Ladakh.

Welcoming the decision of the Modi government many leaders and citizens of the country has called it a historic decision by the Indian government.

Several rumours about separation of J&K state started circulating in the valley after the govt asked pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra and other tourists to leave the valley as soon as possible. Soon after the section 144 was imposed on August 5th midnight, the government has also partially suspended Internet services and mobile services in several places and all public gatherings are banned in Srinagar district until futher orders.

As per the order there shall be no movement of public and all educational institutions shall also remain closed. Various educational institutions in Kashmir Valley also directed their students to vacate hostels. The security has been tightened to deal with any untoward incident after the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370. Several political leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone, have been put under house arrest while Army personnel have taken to the streets of Kashmir.