As the Centre, in an unprecedented move, abrogated Article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leaders hailed the step as “correcting a historic blunder”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah proposed in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for “correcting a historic blunder”.
He further said the Government’s decision was a “monumental decision towards national integration”.
In a series of tweets, Jaitley said a “historic wrong has been undone today”.
“Article 35A came through the back door without following the procedure under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. It had to go,” he tweeted.
“What was a temporary and transient provision cannot be treated as permanent. It had to go.”
“Separate status led to separatism. No dynamic nation can allow this situation to continue,” the BJP leader tweeted on.
“The decision of the government will help the people of J&K the Most. More investment, more industry, more private educational institutions, more jobs and more revenue,” Arun Jaitley tweeted defending the move.
“While the Article 370 and Article 35A decision benefits the residents of J&K the most, the Kashmir regional leaders feel that they will not be able to whip up the fake issue of ‘sentiment vs. benefit’ to the people. (sic),” he said.
“J&K integration with India took place in October 1947. Article 370 came into force in 1952, Article 35A came in 1954, four and seven years later respectively. How can Articles 370 and 35A be a condition precedent to merger? (sic)” he questioned.
BJP leader Ram Madhav called it a “glorious day”.
What a glorious day. Finally d martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukharjee for compete integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and d seven decade old demand of d entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our life time.Ever imagined?🙏
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) August 5, 2019
“Modi Sarkar Correcting A Historic Blunder,” tweeted BJP’s Rajyavardhan Rathore.
Aditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, tweeted: “Historic day for India. 370 scrapped and Jammu & Kashmir now truly a part of India. The path to a safer, progressive and an open J&K determined by citizens, and not anti national separatists has been paved (sic)”.
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also hailed the unprecedented move as “bold And historic”.
बहुत साहसिक और ऐतिहासिक निर्णय. श्रेष्ठ भारत – एक भारत का अभिनन्दन.
A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India – one India.— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 5, 2019
President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the notification to scrap Article 370.
The Government has planned the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory. According to the plan, Ladakh will be a Union Territory without an Assembly.
Read | Centre scraps Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir
Mayawati-led BSP and the Biju Janata Dal extended its support to the government on the scrapping of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad attacked the BJP government saying that “the BJP has murdered democracy and the constitution”.
Repealing Article 370 and Article 35A has long been one of the core BJP promises and the demand for its abrogation had risen after the Pulwama terror attack.
Article 370 grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament’s power to make laws concerning the state. It was incorporated in India’s Constitution in October 1949. It also gives power to the state legislature to define Jammu and Kashmir’s residents and their privileges.