J&K's Article 370 to go, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefs Permanent Five nation on historic integration

Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale has briefed the Permanent Five countries namely China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States about the abrogation of Article 370, and the events that followed before the Rajya Sabha.

 In the light of interest expressed by members of the diplomatic community in Delhi, senior MEA officials briefed the Envoys of several countries on proposals related to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and administrative reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir that were introduced in Parliament. It was, inter alia, highlighted that the proposals which are currently under consideration of the Parliament of India are internal to India. These are aimed at providing good governance, promoting social justice and ensuring economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.

In what is being dubbed as the most important decision by the Narendra Modi led Central government, Home Minister Amit Shah proposed a bill on the revocation of Article 370 in the upper house of the Parliament. The Modi government is determined to solve the Kashmir problem and as it came to power for the second time with a greater majority, it had already said that Kashmir problem is its priority. By bringing a proposal to revoke Article 370 and divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two parts, it has proved its commitment to solving the issue. 

READ: J&K's Article 370 To Go, Pakistan PM Imran Khan Panic-dials Malaysian Counterpart

The resolution revoking Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir was moved by Home Minister Amit Shah which was then followed by an uproar in the Rajya Sabha, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu waived the rules of advance notice for speaking on the issue of J&K Reservation Bill. He said the bill and the situation in Kashmir will be discussed together.

One of the proposals is for the bifurcation of J&K into two union territories - J&K and Ladakh, with the former having a legislature and latter not having one.

BILL PASSED IN RAJYA SABHA 

The Rajya Sabha has passed a statutory resolution on scrapping special status to Jammu and Kashmir and is now voting on the state reorganisation bill which will effectively bifurcate the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one.

READ: Article 370 Scrapped: Jammu Celebrates Despite Restrictions

Pakistan has said it will “employ all available options” against India’s move to repeal Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the decision to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. The announcement by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament capped days of suspense amid massive troop build-up in J&K along with the house arrest of Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and other mainstream Kashmiri leaders. It, however, sparked fears of a new and long cycle of uncertainty for the Valley.

READ: J&K: Article 370 To Be Revoked, Dr. Subramanian Swamy Slams 'vested Interest' Of Dissenting Parties