Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday questioned the Centre’s right to alter the status quo in Jammu and Kashmir without consulting stakeholders.
They were discussing the Bill that bifurcates the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
“Today you have lost the confidence and trust of 1.5 crore people. The route that you have taken to bring in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 is an assault on the Constitution and neither history nor the people of Kashmir will forgive you for this,’’ said Hasnain Masoodi of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Party, representing Anantnag.
Earlier in the day while the Opposition demanded to know where MP Farooq Abdullah was DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said: “An MP is missing and we would like to know from the Home Minister and the Speaker about his whereabouts?’’
Members also held placards demanding to know about Mr. Abdullah.
T.R. Baalu, DMK said: “We would like to know if the government has thought this through? With your majority you will get these Bills passed but what are you going to do about the security problems of the region and the porous borders? Clearly this is a move that is good for your party and not the people of this region.”
He said with the bifurcation the government has created two municipalities. “You have broken a State into Union Territories…who does that,’’ he asked.
Congress leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary asked how the Jammu and Kashmir issue could be considered an internal matter when so far it had been considered a bilateral issue.
Home Minister Amit Shah responded stating that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and this cannot be legally disputed. He also added that Mr. Abdullah isn’t under house arrest or detained and is at home on his own free will. “According to Article 370(3), the President may, by public notification, alter Article 370, provided the Constituent Assembly of the State concurs. This provision has been utilised twice by the Congress,’’ said Mr. Shah.
Manish Tewari of the Congress said that it was Jawaharlal Nehru’s government which had protected Jammu and Kashmir when it was under attack from Pakistan.
“According to the Indian Constitution, before altering the boundaries of any State, concurrence of the Legislative Assembly of the State is mandatory. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana bifurcation was done with complete concurrence of the State Legislative Assembly by the UPA government. What happens to the separate Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir now,” he asked.
Speaking during the discussion, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said: “The process of consultation will be in shreds...You have changed the constitutional relationship of the people of J&K to India without consulting them.You have unleashed upon us political equivalent of demonetisation?"
