Presidential Order Scraps Article 370 Giving Special Status To J&K As Valley Sees Unprecedented Lock-Down
Home minister Amit Shah has proposed to partially scrap Article 370 that gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, while addressing the Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, a series of unprecedented events unfolded in the Kashmir Valley, leading to the imposition of restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Srinagar district, suspension of mobile and internet services as well as placing of two former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti under house arrest while the region continues to be gripped in a state of panic.
AFP
"I believe I'm being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I'll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store," National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah tweeted.
I believe I¡¯m being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I¡¯ll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us ??
¡ª Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2019
"To the people of Kashmir, we don't know what is in store for us but I am a firm believer that whatever Almighty Allah has planned it is always for the better, we may not see it now but we must never doubt his ways. Good luck to everyone, stay safe & above all PLEASE STAY CALM," he added in another tweet.
I believe I¡¯m being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I¡¯ll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us ??
¡ª Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2019
Barely moments after Abdullah was placed under house arrest, Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said that their voices in Parliament would not be stilled. He slammed the government and asked who would be left if the Kashmiri regional leaders are alienated.
AFP
¡°You are not alone @OmarAbdullah. Every Indian democrat will stand with the decent mainstream leaders in Kashmir as you face up to whatever the government has in store for our country. Parliament is still in session & our voices will not be stilled," Tharoor said in a tweet.
You are not alone @OmarAbdullah. Every Indian democrat will stand with the decent mainstream leaders in Kashmir as you face up to whatever the government has in store for our country. Parliament is still in session & our voices will not be stilled. @INCIndia https://t.co/QqGa4EgrP3
¡ª Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 4, 2019
The former UN Under Secretary General went on to slam the Central government and asked why the leaders who have done no wrong were arrested.
"What is going on in J&K? Why would leaders be arrested overnight while having done no wrong? If Kashmiris are our citizens & their leaders our partners, surely the mainstream ones must be kept on board while we act against terrorists & separatists? If we alienate them, who's left?" Tharoor added in another tweet.
What is going on in J&K? Why would leaders be arrested overnight while having done no wrong? If Kashmiris are our citizens &their leaders our partners, surely the mainstream ones must be kept on board while we act against terrorists & separatists? If we alienate them, who¡¯s left?
¡ª Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 4, 2019
Other prominent leaders from the Opposition have also expressed their astonishment at the turn of events. However, there is also a celebration of sorts happening on social media with the likes of veteran actor Anupam Kher asserting that it is the beginning of the solution to the Kashmir issue. Notably, there has been no communication from the government on the further course of action so far nor have the reasons behind these unprecedented moves been disclosed either to the public or to the opposition.
With prominent leaders from the Valley being placed under house arrest or under vigilance, the central government has made it clear that it has not taken them into confidence too.
Kashmir Solution has begun.??
¡ª Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) August 4, 2019
In the midst of all of this, clarity over the further course of action is still awaited as the government is likely to issue a statement on the recent developments in the valley later today.
Congress MPs Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, and Bhubaneswar Kalita have given Adjournment Motion notice in Rajya Sabha while People's Democratic Party (PDP)'s Rajya Sabha MP, Nazir Ahmad Laway has given Zero Hour notice in the House.
Congress MPs Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, and Bhubaneswar Kalita have given Adjournment Motion notice in Rajya Sabha, over Kashmir issue. (File pics) pic.twitter.com/4ybwQiii9V
¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
At the same time, heavy military exchanges on the LoC has triggered further deployment of army in the valley and a high level meeting of the Union Cabinet was convened at Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s residence on Monday morning and Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to issue a statement in the Parliament later in the day.
