Breaking his silence over the removal of Article 370, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the BJP-led government's move an "abuse of executive power" which "has grave implications for national security."
Breaking his silence over the removal of Article 370, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the BJP-led government's move an "abuse of executive power" which "has grave implications for national security."
Rahul's party Congress has vehemently opposed the Centre's action in the Parliament. He, however, is the first one from the Gandhi family to have reacted.
Referring to preventive arrests of former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti Gandhi wrote, "National integration isn't furthered by unilaterally tearing apart Jammu and Kashmir, imprisoning elected representatives and violating our Constitution."
In a tweet, Gandhi, who has publically announced his resignation from the post of Congress president, said, "This nation is made by its people, not plots of land. This abuse of executive power has grave implications for our national security."
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have been opposing the government's announcement to scrap Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Centre on Monday scrapped the Article of the Constitution that conferred special status to Jammu and Kashmir and barred people from the rest of the country from buying
With inputs from ANI
1. 'Your great grandfather threw Sheik Abdullah in Jail'
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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.
Your great grandfather threw Sheik Abdullah in Jail, you grandmother the Entire opposition. On two occasions these two people used the EXACT same process. Grow up kid... you’re running a political party not an NGO & you’re clearly too dumb to learn from your mistakes https://t.co/fGjauAkajw
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) August 6, 2019
It's absolutely shocking to see that the leader of the opposition who dreamt of being India's PM is talking the language of Pakistan PM @ImranKhanPTI. This tweet of Rahul Gandhi has proved that Congress never wanted Kashmir to become an integral part of India. #ShameOnCongress https://t.co/JR76tmbcy9
— Pradeep Bhandari (@pradip103) August 6, 2019
Nehru imprisoned Sheikh Abdullah multiple times.
— Nitin Gupta (@Nitin_Rivaldo) August 6, 2019
He used same executive power to insert 35A.
National Integration isn't furthered by giving separate constitution to a M maj state.
& Nation is made of people on plots of land.
People who lose their land are called refugees! https://t.co/tlAXkweYUR
tweet from your own account @ImranKhanPTI https://t.co/DxDHzf2eZr
— Maithun (The Fauxy) (@Being_Humor) August 6, 2019
Translation: I'm off to my next vacation. Bangkok to Vegas via Bahrain https://t.co/7l5VIPWXUF
— iMac_too (@iMac_too) August 6, 2019
World's Shortest Suicide Note https://t.co/35aCmX4Fff
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 6, 2019
2. Shah says J&K includes PoK and Aksai Chin
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Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that all decisions on Jammu and Kashmir are applicable to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin and asserted that these are integral parts of India.
His remarks in the Lok Sabha came after he moved a resolution abrogating Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. He also moved Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 and Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill 2019 for consideration and passage.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and this cannot be legally disputed.
"All decisions on Jammu and Kashmir are applicable to PoK and Aksai Chin. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of Union of India and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan also comes under it. Why is the Congress questioning the issue," Shah said.
"We will sacrifice our lives for it," he added. in response Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who sought to know from the government about the legal consequences of the resolution moved by the government.
Shah said parliament has enough rights to make legislation for Jammu and Kashmir as the state was under President's rule.
The BJP president also said that the bills and resolution moved by him will be written in the country's history in golden words and would keep Jammu and Kashmir with India for decades.
Talking about the legal standing of the resolution, he said 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," he stated.
On bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said converting Ladakh into a Union Territory was a long-standing demand of the people there.
"Converting Ladakh to a Union Territory has been a long-standing request. This UT will include Aksai Chin. The Hill Councils will continue to function as they have been. We are not taking any of their rights. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, there will be an Assembly and there will be an elected government, " he said.
3. J&K Reservation Bill
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The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to provide 10 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections among the general category.
Shah urged the opposition members to discuss the bills and the resolution in detail and assured them that he was ready to give the reply to every concern raised by them.
The Rajya Sabha on Monday adopted resolutions to scrap Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. The house also passed the reservation bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, 2019 by voice vote.
The Bill seeks to make Jammu and Kashmir a Union Territory with the legislature and Ladakh Union Territory without legislature.
