Putting an end to all the speculations on the rising tensions in Kashmir, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah made an unprecedented announcement in the Parliament by scraping Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which gives autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In one of the first reactions from Kashmir, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti called it “darkest day in Indian democracy.”
Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
The PDP president criticised the recent announcement and said the move will have “catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent.”
Mufti called the Centre’s intentions sinister and accused it of trying to change the demography of the only Muslim majority state in the country.
GOIs intention is clear & sinister. They want to change demography of the only muslim majority state in India , disempower Muslims to the extent where they become second class citizens in their own state.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
Just after the controversial announcement, two PDP MPs tore the Constitution inside the Parliament. The MPs were suspended from the Parliament.
Another leader from Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also issued a statement on the scrapping of Article 370. The National Conference leader accused the Centre of resorting to “deceit and stealth” to bring this Presidential order into force.
The former chief minister of the state was earlier assured by state governor Satya Pal Malik that no modification to the Constitution would be made when the former met him last week. But in a shocking twist, the Home Minister announced the abrogation of Article 370 in the Parliament on August 5 causing a massive furore from the Opposition.
In his statement, Abdullah warned the government the decision will have “far-reaching and dangerous consequences.”
Read his full statement here:
“Government of India (GOI)’s unilateral and shocking decisions today are a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu & Kashmir had reposed in India when the State acceded to it in 1947. The decisions will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against people of the State as had been warned by an all-parties meeting in Srinagar yesterday. GOI has resorted to deceit and stealth in recent weeks to lay the ground for these disastrous decisions. Our darkest apprehensions have unfortunately come true after the GOI and it’s representatives in J&K lied to us that nothing major was planned. The announcement was announced after the entire State, particularly the Kashmir Valley, was turned into a garrison. Those of us who gave a democratic voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground. The scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A raise fundamental questions on the State’s accession because that was done on the very terms enunciated in these Articles. The decisions are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference. A long and tough battle lies ahead. We are ready for that.”