Amid flaring tensions and an unprecedented lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Cabinet headed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
The high-profile meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among other top leaders.
There was no press briefing after the conclusion of the Union Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will speak in Rajya Sabha at 11 am and in Lok Sabha at 12 pm today.
The high-voltage meeting comes hours after former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone were placed under house arrest as restrictions were imposed across the Valley.
The state administration has imposed Section 144 in Srinagar, as well as in Jammu, while mobile internet services have been snapped.
All educational institutions have been closed till further orders and all Kashmir University exams have been postponed without specifying the next date.
Earlier on Sunday, Amit Shah presided over a high-level security meeting which was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Arvind Kumar, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.
Jammu and Kashmir remained on the edge on Sunday as a major security build-up sparked fears and tensions among the locals and tourists.
The dramatic security clampdown has stoked fears that the Centre may have plans to scrap Article 35A, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land, or Article 370 which gives autonomous status to the state.
Last week, there were reports of over 28,000 additional troops of paramilitary forces being deployed in the Kashmir valley.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for the house arrest of senior political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it was a signal that the government will defy all democratic norms to achieve its objects.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said: “Before the day is over we will know if there will be a major crisis in J&K. Keeping my fingers crossed.
“The house arrest of J&K leaders is a signal that the government will defy all democratic norms and principles to achieve its objects. I condemn the house arrests.”
Slamming the Modi government, Chidambaram said: “I had warned of a misadventure in Jammu and Kashmir. It seems the government is determined to embark upon one.”