As Home Minister Amit Shah announced the Cabinet proposal to abolish Article 370, which guarantees the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a disruption in the Parliament. The Modi government proposes to bifurcate Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir into separate Union Territories.
The MPs in the Rajya Sabha began protesting and there was chaos in the Parliament. Political leaders took to social media to express their opinions. Twitter was filled with reactions.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is currently under house arrest, slammed the move. She said, "Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. The decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K."
Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
Further criticising the government, she said, "It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises." Talking about India's promises, she tweeted, "What did J&K get for acceding to India? Another partition along communal lines? Our special status isn’t a gift bestowed upon us. It's a right guaranteed by the same Indian parliament. A contract entered into by J&K leadership & India. Today the very same contract has been violated."
What did J&K get for acceding to India? Another partition along communal lines? Our special status isn’t a gift bestowed upon us. Its a right guaranteed by the same 🇮🇳 parliament. A contract entered into by J&K leadership & India. Today the very same contract has been violated
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
Omar Abdullah, National Conference leader, who is also under house arrest, expressed shock. He tweeted, "Violence will only play into the hands of those who do not have the best interests of the state in mind. This wasn’t the India J&K acceded to but I’m not quite ready to give up hope yet. Let calm heads prevail. God be with you all."
Violence will only play in to the hands of those who do not have the best interests of the state in mind. This wasn’t the India J&K acceded to but I’m not quite ready to give up hope yet. Let calm heads prevail. God be with you all.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2019
Delhi's Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal came out in support. "We support the govt on its decisions on J & K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state," he tweeted.
We support the govt on its decisions on J & K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 5, 2019
The Shiv Sena also hailed the decision. Yuva chief Aaditya Thackeray called it a "historic day". He tweeted, "I pray that now with the reorganisation of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, the citizens there will benefit with peace, progress and prosperity, which was being held back from them for years due to its isolation from the rest of the country."
I pray that now with the reorganisation of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, the citizens there will benefit with peace, progress and prosperity, which was being held back from them for years due to its isolation from the rest of the country.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 5, 2019
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh welcomed the resolution. The organisation tweeted, "We welcome the courageous step by govt. This was very essential for the interest of J&K as well as the entire country. Rising from selfish motives and political differences, everyone should welcome and support this move."
“सरकार के साहसपूर्ण कदम का हम हार्दिक अभिनंदन करते हैं। यह जम्मू-कश्मीर सहित पूरे देश के हित के लिए अत्यधिक आवश्यक था।
— RSS (@RSSorg) August 5, 2019
सभी को अपने स्वार्थों एवं राजनीतिक भेदों से ऊपर उठकर इस पहल का स्वागत और समर्थन करना चाहिये।”
मोहन भागवत, सरसंघचालक
सुरेश (भय्याजी) जोशी, सरकार्यवाह
The BJP's Ram Madhav congratulated the government. He said, "What a glorious day. Finally, the martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukharjee for competing for the integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and the seven-decade-old demand of the entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our lifetime. Ever imagined?"
What a glorious day. Finally d martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukharjee for compete integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and d seven decade old demand of d entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our life time.Ever imagined?🙏
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) August 5, 2019
The BJP's national spokesperson Syed Shahnaz Hussain tweeted, "So many people gave up their lives for complete integration of #JammuAndKashmir in India, the foremost being Dr SP Mukherjee. So many Jawans died defending J&K from terrorists. This decision on #Article370 is a befitting tribute to them all."
So many people gave up their lives for complete integration of #JammuAndKashmir in India, the foremost being Dr. SP Mukherjee. So many Jawans died defending J&K from terrorists. This decision on #Article370 is a befitting tribute to them all.
— Syed Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) August 5, 2019
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the decision. His post said, "A border state, which is culturally, geographically, historically and politically different was bound together by Article 370. Drunk in power and to get votes, BJP govt scrapped 3-4 things. They've cut off the head of the country. Political parties will fight and stand with J&K."
GN Azad,Congress: A border state, which is culturally, geographically, historically&politically different was bound together by Article 370. Drunk in power&to get votes, BJP govt scrapped 3-4 things. They've cut off head of the country. Political parties will fight&stand with J&K pic.twitter.com/UCV6WGqD22
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
Author Chetan Bhagat posted a series of tweets in support. He said, "Article 370 never gave Kashmiris freedom. It only created selfish leaders who created a terror-filled society and robbed Kashmiri youth of opportunity. It is finally time for it to go. Anyone objects, tell them loudly: One Country, One System. #Article370 #OneCountryOneSystem."
Article 370 never gave Kashmiris freedom. It only created selfish leaders who created a terror filled society and robbed Kashmiri youth of opportunity. It is finally time for it to go. Anyone objects, tell them loudly: One Country, One System. #Article370 #OneCountryOneSystem
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 5, 2019
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi tweeted, "A whole generation of Indians around the world watching history live. A rare opportunity."
A whole generation of Indians around the world watching history 🇮🇳 live.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 5, 2019
A rare opportunity...
Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee called it a "political decision". He said, "I don't think there is anything revolutionary here. It's a political decision even though it is not a wise decision."
Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee on Bill moved in Rajya Sabha today, to revoke Article 370: I don't think there is anything revolutionary here. It's a political decision even though it is not a wise decision. pic.twitter.com/3HIYPLB0w6
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
Historian Ramachandra Guha called the government "paranoid". He said, "This is not a democracy, this is authoritarianism, the handiwork of paranoid, insecure rulers who daren't even have a proper debate inside or outside Parliament."
This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism, the handiwork of paranoid, insecure rulers who daren't even have a proper debate inside or outside Parliament. https://t.co/ePlUK7p4xD
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) August 5, 2019
Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar said, "I think Govt of India should have taken them (leaders of the valley) into confidence which unfortunately the govt didn't do. And then they should have taken the decision (to revoke 370)."
Sharad Pawar, NCP: I think Govt of India should have taken them (leaders of the valley) into confidence which unfortunately the govt didn't do. And then they should have taken the decision (to revoke 370). pic.twitter.com/dabgrGZLR5
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
The Indian government's decision to revoke Article 370 did not go down well with Pakistani leaders and the Pakistani media. PTI Karachi condemned the decision and announced a protest. The organisation tweeted, "The solidarity with the Kashmiri people organised by Karachi and the protest against Indian atrocities in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be staged in front of Karachi Press Club at 4 pm this evening. Let us record your protest against the Indian atrocities in the occupied valley."
پی ٹی آئی کراچی کے زیر اہتمام کشمیری عوام سے اظہار یکجہتی اور مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر میں بھارتی مظالم کے خلاف آج شام چار بجے کراچی پریس کلب کے سامنے احتجاجی مظاہرہ کیا جاۓگا۔ آئیے ہمارے ساتھ مل کر مقبوضہ وادی میں بھارتی مظالم کے خلاف اپنا احتجاج ریکارڈ کروائیں۔ pic.twitter.com/IuRt5ZgqTh
— PTI Karachi Official (@PTI_KHI) August 5, 2019
Dr Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan, expressed concern for the Kashmiri people. He tweeted, "OIC-IPHRC expresses deep concern over actions by India, in IoK, causing fear and panic among innocent Kashmiris, arbitrary arrests of Kashmiri leadership and media reports of attempts to alter the demographic status of the disputed territory."
OIC-IPHRC expresses deep concern over actions by India, in IoK, causing fear and panic among innocent Kashmiris, arbitrary arrests of Kashmiri leadership and media reports of attempts to alter demographic status of the disputed territory https://t.co/w0Tw0l3Lq4
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) August 5, 2019