The Narendra Modi-led BJP government on Monday moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to take away the special status awarded to Jammu and Kashmir, by scrapping the controversial Article 370. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament amid ruckus by legislators who were opposing the bill.
While most of the opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, National Conference and RSP were in the Well shouting slogans, the government enjoyed backing from unprecedented supporters. Mayawati-led BSP was one of the first parties to extend support to the government's move. "Our party gives complete support. We want that the Bill be passed. Our party is not expressing any opposition to Article 370 Bill & the other Bill," said BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra in the Rajya Sabha. Shiv Sena, YSRCP and TRS have also supported the BJP move.
AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal backed the government's bold move. "We support the govt on its decisions on J & K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state," tweeted Kejriwal.
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Odisha's BJD, led by Naveen Patnaik, also supported scrapping of Article 370. "In real sense today, Jammu and Kashmir has become a part of India. My party supports this resolution. We are a regional party but for us nation is first," said BJD MP Prasanna Acharya in the Rajya Sabha. "Amma is well known for upholding sovereignty and integrity. So AIADMK party supports the two resolutions, Reorganisation Bill and the Reservation Bill," said AIADMK MP A. Navaneethakrishnan, announcing his party's stand in Rajya Sabha.
While BJP was able to garner support from unprecedented territories, its Bihar ally JD(U) joined the opposition parties and walked out of the Upper House. "Our chief Nitish Kumar is carrying forward the tradition of JP Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and George Fernandes. So our party is not supporting the Bill moved in the Rajya Sabha today. We have different thinking. We want that Article 370 should not be revoked," said JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi.
The government moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh. Making the announcement in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah said the UT in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh while the other UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.