In a major breakthrough, Union Home Minister Amit Shah passed a bill in the Rajya Sabha to divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Making the official announcement in Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah added that the union territory in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh while the other union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.
“Kashmir and Jammu division will be separate Union Territory with legislature,” Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha on Monday as he announced the creation of Union Territory of Ladakh.
As Union Home Minister introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill, some mad scenes were witnessed in the House soon after the announcement of the Home Minister.
“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 statement read.
Previously, the Home Minister Amit Shah proposed to scrap Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Amit Shah said the Article 370 will be officially cancelled from the day of the President’s assent. As soon as Union Minister Amit Shah announced that removal of Article 370, the House saw some chaotic scenes as the Opposition, chaired by Congress, filed strong protest against the government move.
Tensions grew stronger in the Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night after Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone were put under house arrest as the authorities forced restrictions in multiple districts in the state.
“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,” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah had tweeted.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti added, “How ironic that elected representatives like us who fought for peace are under house arrest. The world watches as people & their voices are being muzzled in J&K. The same Kashmir that chose a secular democratic India is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude. Wake up India.”