Cong leader Chowdhury asks whether J-K internal matter

The Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday sought to know from the government whether Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter or a bilateral issue, saying the United Nations has been monitoring the situation there since 1948.

Chowdhury's remarks triggered protests from treasury benches.

"You say it is an internal matter. The UN has been monitoring the situation since 1948. Then there is Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. Whether this is a bilateral matter or an internal matter...." he asked.

Chowdhury said he needed clarification on the issue.

Initiating the debate on the motions to abrogate Article 360 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill from the Congress' side, Manish Tewari tried to trace the origins of Article 370 and said the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir chose to accede with India.

However, there were some special provisions while joining the Union of India, he said.

Slamming the government over the proposed legislations, he said the government cannot change the boundaries of the state without consulting the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

"This is travesty of Constitution (savidhnaik trasti)", Tewari said.

"This is not in the spirit of Parliament," he said.

Tewari also Raised queries over the fate of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister Amit Shah asked what was the Congress stand on Article 370.

To this, Tewari said, "Everything cannot be black and white. There are 50 shades of grey in between."