New Delhi: A day after the Rajya Sabha approved a resolution abrogating Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and a bill to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories, the Lok Sabha voted on Tuesday and passed with a comfortable margin.
Here are the highlights:
07:41 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned sine die.
07:06 pm: Resolution to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir passed in Lok Sabha with a comfortable majority.
(Photo: ANI)
07:02 pm: Voting on resolution revoking Article 370 from J&K is underway in Lok Sabha.
07:00 pm: Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted, "I support the move on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and its full integration into the Union of India.Would have been better if constitutional process had been followed. No questions could have been raised then."
06:52 pm: Replying to Supriya Sule's comments, Amit Shah said, "Supriya Sule asked what would happen to J&K's environment & beauty. There are laws for environment in the nation&they'll be implemented there as soon as Article 370 is revoked. Jammu & Kashmir was heaven on earth, it is heaven on the earth & it'll always remain so."
06:34 pm: Talking about the curfew in place in the state, Amit Shah said, "The curfew wasn't put in place because the law and order situation has deteriorated. It is precautionary, it has been put in place so the situation doesn't deteriorate."
06:30 pm: Hitting out at Asaduddin Owaisi, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Asaduddin Owaisi said we're going to commit a historical mistake.We're not going to commit a historical mistake, we're going to correct one. After 5 years, seeing development in J&K under leadership of PM Modi, people of valley will understand drawbacks of Article 370."
06:08 pm: Amit Shah said, "Who took Kashmir to the United Nations, it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. History will decide if this decision (to revoke 370) is right or not, but whenever it will be discussed, PM Narendra Modi will be remembered by the people."
06:02 pm: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said, "I request you to extend the time of the house till this Bill is completed. Also, as per schedule, you are supposed to finalise tomorrow, but since 99% of the business is over, I request you to finalise today."
05:55 pm: Ravi Shankar Prasad in Lok Sabha, "Shashi Tharoor you talked diligently on legislative despotism or something like that. Oh alright, I can't speak English of that caliber, I know my limitations. But I remember a very famous cartoon when emergency was imposed."
"The Honourable President was having a bath & he said at least spare me to take my bath, don't bring ordinance at this moment (in the cartoon), we didn't do anything like that. You imposed emergency at first, then told the cabinet."
He continued, "Today the people from the opposition who are talking about Article 370, did they speak when Human Rights were being violated in Pak occupied Kashmir? Even today Human Rights are violated in PoK. These are bigger questions."
05:09 pm: Asaduddin Owaisi in Lok Sabha, "I stand to oppose the bill. Definitely BJP has lived up to their electoral promise in their manifesto, but they have not lived up to their constitutional duties. They have indulged in the breach of a constitutional promise."
He continued, "Supreme Court judgements have more wisdom than the honourable Home Minister. People have been fighting for their dignity all over the north east of the country . You have refused to understand where history begins and ends. In a democratic state, free all the Kashmiri people...let them come out and celebrate too. The government should release all prisoners in the state to help them celebrate. There will be issues from Dalits also later. There will be large-scale migration all over the country in the near future."
"What will happen on Eid? Eid is on Monday. Are you assuming that Kashmiris instead of sacrificing lamb should sacrifice themselves? If you want that I'm sure they'll do that, they've been doing that."
04:36 pm: Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan spoke to ANI, "Because we're in opposition, people expect us to oppose. But in my opinion, the decision to revoke Article 370, that was anyway temporary & had to be revoked, is the right decision."
#WATCH Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan on #Article370revoked: Because we're in opposition, people expect us to oppose. But in my opinion, the decision to revoke Article 370, that was anyway temporary & had to be revoked, is the right decision pic.twitter.com/v6C30CT1ap
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
04:31 pm: Amit Shah said, "I'm saying it for the 4th time, and I've the patience to say it for the 10th time, Farooq Abdullah has neither been detained nor arrested. If he isn't well, doctors will take him to hospital. House shouldn't worry. If he wasn't well, he would not have come out."
04:20 pm: Shashi Tharoor in Lok Sabha,"It is an assault on our democratic practice. My party rejects this move. I would also like to request for an all-party delegation to visit Kashmir and study the situation. We all remember the last time the PM unleashed a decision on the nation which was also initially applauded for his decisiveness, just like today and that was the disaster of demonetisation. The nation is still dealing with the devastating consequences of that action."
04:16 pm: Home Minister Amit Shah hit back at Shashi Tharoor's comment on the absence of Farooq Abdullah and his house arrest. He said, "I have made it clear thrice, Farooq Abdullah ji is at his home, he is not under house arrest, he is not under detention. He is in good health, mauj-masti mein hain, unko nahi ana hai toh gun kanpatti par rakh kar bahar nahi la sakte hum."
04:15 pm: National Conference leader and J&K Former CM Farooq Abdullah said, "Home Ministry is lying in the Parliament that I'm not house-arrested, that I am staying inside my house at my own will."
"Why would I stay inside my house on my own will when my state is being burnt, when my people are being executed in jails? This is not the India I believe in."
#WATCH: National Conference leader & J&K Former CM Farooq Abdullah: Home Ministry is lying in the Parliament that I'm not house-arrested, that I am staying inside my house at my own will. #Article370 pic.twitter.com/OXzHjEmTnx
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
04:00 pm: Shashi Tharoor hit out at the Centre on the absence of Farooq Abdullah, "Why we think it is a black day? Because two former Jammu and Kashmir CMs - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are under arrest and the whereabouts of our own colleague Farooq Abdullah are still unclear. "
03:50 pm: Jamyang Tsering, BJP MP from Ladakh in Lok Sabha on Article 370: "What will be lost with this decision? UPA gave Kashmir a central University in 2011, Jammu fought and took a central university. I was a Student Union leader. We demanded for a central university in Ladakh, but we didn’t get any. PM Modi recently gave us a university. ‘Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai."
03:44 pm: A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging the Presidential order on Article 370 which revokes the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir. The plea has been filed by advocate M L Sharma who claimed that the Presidential order was “illegal” as it was passed without taking consent from the state assembly.
Sharma is likely to mention his plea for urgent listing before the apex court on Wednesday, as reported by news agency PTI.
03:41 pm: In a contradictory turn of events, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, a senior lawmaker from Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress, appeared to join the growing list of opposition leaders who backed the NDA government’s move contrary to their party’s official stand.
“Decades old Comedy of Errors are being rectified now,” Sukhendu Sekhar Ray tweeted, who is also the Trinamool Congress’s chief whip.
03:35 pm: Rahul Gandhi took to twitter to say, "Kashmir’s mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic. It’s also short sighted and foolish because it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vaccum created by GOI. The imprisoned leaders must be released."
03:23 pm: Raising the topic of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's contribution on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Home Minister Amit Shah hit back aggressively at Hasnain Masoodi’s remarks on Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Masoodi said, “Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was the one who brought about Article 370.”
“When did Shyama Prasad Mukherjee bring the Article,” shouts Amit Shah amid debate in Lok Sabha and adds, “He died fighting for Kashmir. He was a member of the Cabinet that took decision on Article 370, but that doesn’t mean that he was the one who supported Article 370 in Kashmir. If Masoodi says that Shyama Prasad Mukherjee brought Article 370, he should tell us what he is referring to, very clearly.”
03:11 pm: Supriya Sule, NCP MP says “You divided state (J&K),I don’t know why? A lot was talked about Andhra. I was here when it was debated. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Just because something went wrong that time, doesn’t mean you need to make the same mistake. What’s the difference between this and that government? You are dividing the state, my only question is when will you have elections which are fair & transparent? Why does Ladakh not have an Assembly?”
03:06 pm: Akhilesh Yadav, President of Samajwadi Party, raises the issue of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the governor supported the NDA-led BJP government in revoking Article 370 because they are the current rulers in the nation.
He also said, "We are with the country. But now my question is about the status of Pakistan occupied Kashmir."
03:00 pm: BSP MP, Girish Chandra, and TRS MP, Nama Nageswara, Rao support the Bill to revoke Article 370 in Lok Sabha, reports news agency ANI.
02:53 pm: Supriya Sule, NCP MP said "I sit on seat 462, Farooq Abdullah sits on seat 461. He's elected from J&K, we can't hear him today.This debate will be incomplete if you ask me."
In reply to that, Home Minister Amit Shah said,"Farooq Abdullah has neither been detained nor arrested. He's at his home,out of his own free will"
02:32 pm: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress, "Since 1948, Kashmir has been under monitoring mechanism of the United Nations. So, in the wake of bifurcation of J&K state, what should be the stand & status of our country?"
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress: Kashmir has always been under the attention of the international forum. If Kashmir issue is so easy, why should this govt yesterday address the embassy people of various countries? I simply sought a clarification from the govt. https://t.co/Qz82LDhAYl
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
02:21 pm: Pralhad Joshi, BJP, in Lok Sabha, "When the country is celebrating, Congress is speaking in the voice of Pakistan. Pakistan government official statement said it’s a dark day. Pakistan says it’s a dark day and you’re joining them?"
Pralhad Joshi, BJP, in Lok Sabha: When the country is celebrating, Congress is speaking in the voice of Pakistan. Pakistan govt official statement said it's a dark day. Congress leaders have stated it's a dark day. What does it mean? Pak says it's a dark day&you're joining them? pic.twitter.com/RfaD2TzaE1
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
02:13 pm: Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, tweeted, "For us to be a progressive, vibrant democracy...all political parties and local representatives needed to be involved."
He also tweeted, "No justification for arresting former CMs’, who took oath under the constitution&treating them at par with separatists.I pray and hope that peace prevails."
02:06 pm: Janata Dal (United) staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha over the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill. The party had also staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
01:51 pm: Jammu and Kashmir policy planning group of Congress party to meet today, reports news agency ANI.
01:39 pm: Indresh Kumar, RSS on Article 35A and 370 revoked: I welcome the decision. Even UNO will not oppose it. UNO justice will also support India in this.
Indresh Kumar, RSS on Article 35A &370 revoked: I welcome the decision. Even UNO will not oppose it. UNO justice will also support India in this. Pakistan agar koi uchal-khood karta hai, toh usko Pakistan occupied J&K se apne claim ko wapas lena hoga. https://t.co/utvj0pelyj
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
01:35 pm: West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee opposes the bill and says, “We cannot support this bill. We cannot vote for this bill. If you need to arrive at a permanent solution, then you have to talk to all stakeholders. I have no information about Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. I appeal to the government that they should not feel isolated. They are not terrorists. They should be released in the interest of the democratic institutions.
01:23 pm: Prashant Bhushan, Activist, tweets: “Bifurcation of J&K requires consent of the elected assembly of the State. Can’t be done by just President or Governor’s consent. Unconstitutional.”
01:04 pm: More Congress leaders on Tuesday came out in support of scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, a stand contrary to the party line, even as top leaders went into damage control and called a CWC meeting to formulate a clear stand after several senior leaders embarrassed the opposition party by backing the government.
Aditi Singh, Congress MLA from Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency Rae Bareli said: “I’m in absolute support of the decision. It will help in integrating J&K into the mainstream. It’s a historic decision. It should not be politicised. As an MLA, in my capacity, I welcome this decision,” reported ANI. She is the Rae Bareli Sadar MLA.
Another Congress leader and Sports and Youth Affairs minister of Rajasthan Ashok Chandna also tweeted his support. “This is my personal view, I support scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. But the implementation of the decision must be done through peaceful means and not with high-handedness,” he wrote, joining several other Congress leaders who have supported the government’s move.
01:02 pm: Breaking his silence over the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took to Twitter to term the move an “abuse of executive power” which will have “grave implications” on national security.
National integration isn’t furthered by unilaterally tearing apart J&K, imprisoning elected representatives and violating our Constitution. This nation is made by its people, not plots of land.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2019
This abuse of executive power has grave implications for our national security.
12:23 pm: DMK leader, Thalikottai R. Baalu, questioned the arrest of Mufti and Omar. DMK leader, Thalikottai R Baalu, questions the arrest of Mufti and Omar in J&K. “The House needs to know on what grounds Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have been arrested.”
12:18 pm: ‘Where is Farooq Abdullah… there is no info,' Lok Sabha MP asks Speaker
As the Lok Sabha debated the government’s resolution to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and a bill to bifurcate the state, the absence of lawmaker from Kashmir Farooq Abdullah was raised in the House.
DMK MP, Dayanidhi Maran in Lok Sabha, "Mr Farooq Abdullah, a member of this House is missing. He is arrested. We have no intimation. You as a Speaker should protect the members. You should be neutral."
12:15 pm: BJP claims Jawaharlal Nehru forced Article 370 on India.
BJP MP from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma said the Article 370, which gives special status to J&K, is a blot on history and has completely isolated the state. “What has Artixle 370 gives us? Jawaharlal Nehru forced Article 370 on India.”
12:12 pm: BJP MP from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru forced Article 370 on India:
“What has Article 370 given us? Jawaharlal Nehru forced Article 370 on India,” Sharma said.
12: 06 pm: Manish Tewari further attacked the government and said: “Jammu and Kashmir has a different Constitution all together. You have bifurcated the state, but did you consider what will happen to that Constitution. Will you introduce someone who will divide the Constitution too. You have not studied the various clauses of the Constitution. It has happened for the first time in the history, that a state with ‘special status’ has been converted into UT in just the blink of an eye.”
“Things lie in grey area as well, they cannot always be measured in black or white,” Tewari adds.
12:01 pm: Manish Tewari called the bill "undemocratic'' and cited the example of Andhra Pradesh, during whose bifurcation, consent of people in power was sought.
“According to the Section 3 of the Constitution, consultation with assembly should be done before changing boundaries of any state,” Tewari said.
11:47 am: Congress leader the Manish Tewari accussed the Union Government of violating the law and changing the state in just a night.
“You have wrongly interpretated the constitution. You cannot change things overnight and expect the world to support it,” Tewari said.
11:43 am: Explaining the bifurcation decision, Amit Shah said: "There has been long-standing demand for UT status for Ladakh. We have fulfilled it now".
11:39 am: Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed that the decision lies under the legal boundaries of the Constitution.
Amit Shah said: “According to Presidential order, all the Centre’s laws will apply to Jammu and Kashmir. There is a resolution in place, according to which, Article 370 (3), Article 370 can be scrapped."
11:23 am: Replying to Chowdhury’s statement, Shah said, “Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of Union of India. Kashmir ki seema mein PoK bhi aata hai... Jaan de denge iske liye!” He said that the Parliament has the right to make laws on Jammu & Kashmir.
11:20 am: Chowdhury said a few days ago S Jaishankar told Mike Pompeo that Kashmir is a bilateral matter, so don't interfere in it. “Can Jammu and Kashmir still be an internal matter? We want to know. Entire Congress party wants to be enlightened by you,” he asked.
11:12 am: Addressing Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “I don't think you are thinking about PoK, you violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight.”
“You say that it is an internal matter. But it is being monitored since 1948 by the UN, is that an internal matter? We signed Shimla Agreement & Lahore Declaration, what that an internal matter or bilateral?” he added.
11:10 am: Union Home Minister Amit Shah moves the resolution to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, in Lok Sabha.
