New Delhi:
Slamming Pakistan for its ‘unilateral action’ of stopping postal between two nations, India on Monday suspended the booking and collection of articles meant for Pakistan. In a circular issued on Monday, the Department of Posts confirmed that Pakistan has not been accepting mails form India since August 23. Islamabad did not inform Ne Delhi about its decision. In its circular, the Department of Post has called the suspension of exchange of mails between two nations as a violation of the UPU Resolution. “Consequent to the above, it has been decided by the Competent Authority to suspend booking/collection of articles meant for Pakistan. Circles are requested to inform to the Post Offices not to book mails which are meant for Pakistan with immediate effect and until further orders,” the circular by the Department of Posts said.
This is the first time ever that Pakistan has stopped the exchange of mails. From days of Partition to two wars, the mails were never stopped. Though there has been no official statement from Pakistan, it is perceived that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is the reason behind this unprecedented move.
Putting an end to all wild speculations and online and offline rumours, the Narendra Modi government on August 5 revoked the Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also proposed the bifurcation of the state. The third key takeaway of big announcement was the scrapping of Article 35A, which empowered Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents. The Monday’s big announcements will have far reaching effects on the ground.
With Article 370 becoming history, Jammu and Kashmir will not have separate state flag. With President Ram Nath Kovind’s nod to scrapping of Article 35A, every Indian will now be able to buy property in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of the Ranbir Penal Code, the entire region will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Penal Code. With these announcements, the Modi government at the Centre will have right on land and police power in Jammu and Kashmir.
As against the trifurcation buzz, the Modi government announced the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. Shah also moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh. Shah, who introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill, said the union territory in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh. The other union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.
