New Delhi:
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, seeking to bifurcate the state into two union territories of J-K and Ladakh, has been passed by 125 "Ayes" and 61 "No" in Rajya Sabha on Monday amid a walkout by opposition parties. One member abstained from voting. Opposition BSP, BJD, AIADMK and YSR-Congress voted in favour of the bill while Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, JDU vehemently opposed the resolution.
Moving the resolution following President Ram Nath Kovind's order abrogating Article 370, Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought the permission of the House to bring the bill, adding that the controversial provisions were responsible for poverty and lack of development in the state.
Asked how long will Jammu and Kashmir remain a Union Territory, Shah, however, said full statehood will be restored again at "appropriate time" and after "normalcy" returns in the region.
The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/jixNAn3x0y
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
READ | J-K will revert to being a state when the right time comes: Amit Shah
Meanwhile, the Bill has also been introduced in the Lok Sabha with Shah assuring opposition members that he would move the bill and the resolution for consideration of the House on Tuesday and was only seeking the permission of the House for the same now.
The move follows the passage of another bill to extend 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in the state as well as the resolution on abrogating Article 370 by voice vote.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha that Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special rights, has been scrapped with President Kovind's assent.
Shortly afterwards, Kovind came out with a notification - The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 that will come into force immediately. The order will supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 as amended from time to time.
READ | List of political parties supporting or opposing Modi govt on scrapping Article 370
The notification also made it clear that all the provisions of the Constitution as amended from time to time, shall apply in relation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the exceptions and modifications subject to which they shall so apply.
The decisions mark a new milestone in the country's politics with the BJP-led government breaking new grounds on issues that have been virtually untouched in last more than 70 years.
