Govt proposes revoking Article 370 in J&K, Baijayant 'Jay' Panda congratulates PM Modi and Amit Shah on historic decision

In a historic move by the Modi government, Home Minister Amit Shah gave a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Jammu and Kashmir proposing that the Article 370 be scrapped, with the effect being that the state would be fully integrated with India.

Not only the abrogation of Article 370, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was also bifurcated into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh, with the former having a legislature and the latter without.

READ | J&K: Home Minister Amit Shah Proposes Article 370's Revocation, Centre Brings 4 Proposals About Kashmir To Parliament

Reacting to the same, former member of the Lok Sabha and official spokesperson of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Baijayant Jay Panda, took to his Twitter handle to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for this historic decision. He said that this was long overdue. Take a look at his tweet -

READ | Article 370 To Go In J&K: Mehbooba Mufti Calls It A Failure To Keep Promise In Kashmir, Warns Of 'catastrophe'

What is Article 370?

Article 370 of the Indian constitution gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

370. Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution,—

(a) the provisions of article 238 shall not apply now in relation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir;[a]

(b) the power of Parliament to make laws for the said state shall be limited to—

(i) those matters in the Union List and the Concurrent List which, in consultation with the Government of the State, are declared by the President to correspond to matters specified in the Instrument of Accession governing the accession of the State to the Dominion of India as the matters with respect to which the Dominion Legislature may make laws for that State; and

(ii) such other matters in the said Lists as, with the concurrence of the Government of the State, the President may by order specify.

Explanation: For the purpose of this article, the Government of the State means the person for the time being recognized by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly of the State as the Sadr-i-Riyasat (now Governor) of Jammu and Kashmir, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State for the time being in office.

(c) the provisions of article 1 and of this article shall apply in relation to that State;

(d) such of the other provisions of this Constitution shall apply in relation to that State subject to such exceptions and modifications as the President may by order specify:

Provided that no such order which relates to the matters specified in the Instrument of Accession of the State referred to in paragraph (i) of sub-clause (b) shall be issued except in consultation with the Government of the State:

Provided further that no such order which relates to matters other than those referred to in the last preceding proviso shall be issued except with the concurrence of that Government.

(2) If the concurrence of the Government of the State referred to in paragraph (ii) of sub-clause (b) of clause (1) or in the second provision to sub-clause (d) of that clause be given before the Constituent Assembly for the purpose of framing the Constitution of the State is convened, it shall be placed before such Assembly for such decision as it may take thereon.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify:
Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.