Modi govt scraps Article 370 in J&K, proposes to split state into two Union Territories
By migrator | Aug 5, 2019, 15:22 IST
NATIONAL | August 5, 2019:
Provisions under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has been moved to scrap by the Modi government, which grants a special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the Union of India.
It was decided that Jammu and Kashmir would be turned into a Union Territory with a legislature, similar to Delhi and Puducherry, and the Ladakh division would be made a separate Union Territory without legislature, akin to Chandigarh and most other Union Territories.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti termed the decision "illegal and unconstitutional", and said, with the scrapping of Article 370, India was now an occupational force in the state.
The Modi government's decision is set to throw up constitutional questions, including the sanctity of the terms of accession signed between the Union of India and Jammu & Kashmir and is likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court. It could also threaten to internationalise the Kashmir problem.