In a historic decision, Amit Shah announced at Rajya Sabha that Article 370 which gives special power to the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be abrogated with immediate effect.

Also, the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be divided with Ladakh becoming a Union Territory without legislature and Jammu & Kashmir becoming Union Territory with Legislature. 

The people of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday woke up amidst tight security and speculation, the imposition of Section 144 in parts of the state. Prominent Kashmiri politicians like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were put under house arrest. 

Mobile internet was however cut off from Sunday evening itself and presently all communication lines have been cut off. The security agencies are using satellite phones for their communication. To prevent any untoward event, 40 companies of CRPF are stationed in Jammu and 100 companies in Srinagar. 

On Monday morning, 5 August 2019, a cabinet meeting was held. The cabinet meeting ended with Amit Shah to address Rajya Sabha at 11 am and Lok Sabha at 12 noon. 

Home minister Amit Shah has justified the repeal of Article 370. Shah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not getting any benefits and the politicians are allowing corruption to flourish.

The Minister asserted Article 370 never helped Jammu and Kashmir join India and said, Jammu and Kashmir were already a part of India much before Article 370.

Shah said Article 370 was accepted with the idea that it will eventually be removed but no political party had the will to do it. The Home Minister appealed to all members to take part in a discussion on the Bill.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Satish Chandra Mishra said his party is supporting the government’s bill on removing Article 370 in the Rajya Sabha. Now, Rajya Sabha is taking up a discussion together on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 as well as resolutions related to scrapping Article 370. Opposition members continued sloganeering.

Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the act, saying that Congress will be protecting the Constitution at any cost, but BJP has murdered the Constitution today.

BJP has issued a three-line whip for all MPs to be present in both the houses of the Parliament till 7th August. The crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting has started. Opposition leaders are currently in a huddle in Parliament discussing their future strategy.