Rajya Sabha approves revoking special constitutional status of J-K, splitting state into two UTs

Rajya Sabha on Monday approved a resolution revoking the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and passed a Bill to split the state into two Union Territories, as Home Minister Amit Shah promised to restore full statehood after normalcy is restored in the militancy-hit region.

The House passed by a voice vote the resolution to abrogate Article 370 and the accompanying Article 35A ending seven decades of autonomous state government.

The bill to split the state in two UTs-- Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh -- was passed by 125 votes in favour and 61 against. One member abstained from voting while two PDP members were debarred from the day's proceedings after they tore a copy of the Constitution of India in the House to protest against the move.

While the resolution was passed by voice vote, Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, YSR-Congress, TDP, BJD and AIADMK supported the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill.

TMC, which earlier in the day vehemently opposed the abrogation of Article 370, staged a walkout before Shah began to reply to the debate.

Allaying opposition fears of all hell breaking loose after the move, Shah replied, "nothing will happen" and the region won't be allowed to turn into another battle-torn Kosovo.

"It was heaven on earth and will remain so," he said replying to the debate on the resolution and the bill which were taken up together.

He said full statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at an "appropriate time" and after "normalcy" returns.

Under Article 370 of the Constitution, Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed complete autonomy and the state legislature was free to draft its own laws except in the areas of communications, defense, finance, and foreign affairs.

Also, Indian citizens were prohibited from purchasing land in the state.

Replying to the debate on the issue in the House, Shah said there is no need for a Constitutional amendment and the President has already signed an executive order to abrogate Article 370.

"I want to assure the members that as soon as things become normal in the state... when the appropriate time comes, we will again restore its statehood. We don't have a problem with that," he said.

He repeatedly attacked the Congress for raising a bogey and said, "Give us five years, and we will make Jammu and Kashmir the country's most developed state."