Updated
New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS):In a big triumph for the government, the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 and adopted the resolution to abrogate the Constitution's Article 370.
The bill would now be tabled in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. Once it gets the Parliamentary approval and becomes an Act, the state would be bifurcated into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh Union Territory without a legislature.
The Rajya Sabha also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 having provisions of 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections of upper caste in the state.
Replying to the debate on Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah said that it was time for Article 370 to go as the constitutional provision was "the root of all the evils".
He said that Article 370 never allowed the democracy to percolate down, and noted that over 41,000 people of the state were killed in the last two decades.
Lok Sabha adopts resolution on J&K Reorganisation Bill
New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS): The Lok Sabha on Monday adopted a resolution moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 which splits the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one.
The resolution was adopted by the House with voice vote.
The Minister moved the resolution in the lower house after the Reorganisation Bill was moved and discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
"That the President of India has referred the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 to this House under the proviso to article 3 of the Constitution of India for its views as this House is vested with the powers of the State Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir, as per proclamation of the President of India dated December 19, 2018," the resolution moved by Shah said.
The Minister assured the opposition that he will give a detailed reply and participate in the discussion when the Bill will be introduced in the House on Tuesday.
The opposition objected to the move and sought Shah's reply. Amid the din, the Lok Sabha accepted the resolution on the Bill.
Earlier News
Article 370 will be scrapped, Ladakh, J&K to be union territories - Amit Shah
New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday proposed to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said the state will be split into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one.
Making a historic announcement in the Rajya Sabha that triggered bedlam, Shah said: "I am presenting the resolution to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir except the first clause 370 (1)."
Following his speech amid bedlam, the House was adjourned.
In a separate statement, Shah said the government had proposed to reorganize Jammu and Kashmir carving out two separate Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
He said this had been done in view of constant threats of cross border terrorism.
The Union Territory of Ladakh was a long pending demand of the people of the region and the decision was aimed at fulfilling the aspiration of the local population, the Minister said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday made it clear that it was wrong to say that Article 370 of the Constitution linked Jammu and Kashmir with India.
"Opposition leaders are saying that Article 370 brought Jammu and Kashmir to India. But the fact is that the Maharaja Hari Singh signed on October 27, 1947 (the Instrument of Accession) while Article 370 came into existence in 1949.
"So this is wrong to say that Article 370 brought Jammu and Kashmir with India," the Minister told the Rajya Sabha in response to Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who condemned the government decision to axe Article 370.
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nazeer Ahmed Laway and Mir Mohammad Fayaz, were shunted out of the Rajya Sabha after they removed copies of the Constitution.
Leader of Opposition Azad said: "By revoking Article 370 that accords special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP government has murdered the Constitution of India.
"We stand by the Constitution of India... We are willing to give up our lives for the Constitution, but we condemn any act against the Constitution."
He underlined that it was the historic Article 370 which linked Jammu and Kashmir to India.
His remarks came after Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha scrapping Article 370 will not be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir any more.
Shah said Article 370 was used as "vote bank politics" and the earlier governments lacked the political will to revoke it.
"But the Modi government has the political will and we are not bothered about vote bank politics."
He asked the opposition members to have a debate on the resolution and said there should not be a delay "even one second" in revoking Article 370.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti described the decision to scrap Article 370 as "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," the former Chief Minister tweeted.
"It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOI's intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises," she said.