New Delhi: In a strongly-worded statement, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the BJP-led central government for revoking the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two.
Calling the Centre's move abuse of executive power, Rahul said it has grave implications for national security.
He also alleged that leaders of political parties in Kashmir were jailed at secret locations, which was "unconstitutional and undemocratic", and demanded their immediate release.
Gandhi said the move was "short-sighted and foolish" as it would allow terrorists to fill up the leadership vacuum created by the central government.
A day after the Centre revoked the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two Union territories, the Congress leader said national integration could not be furthered by unilaterally "tearing apart" the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
"National integration isn't furthered by unilaterally tearing apart J&K, imprisoning elected representatives and violating our Constitution. This nation is made by its people, not plots of land.
"This abuse of executive power has grave implications for our national security," he said on Twitter.
This was Gandhi's first comment since the government revoked the provisions of Article 370 on Monday to take away Jammu and Kashmir's special status and proposed that the state be bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
"Kashmir's mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
"It's also short sighted and foolish because it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vacuum created by GOI. The imprisoned leaders must be released," he said on Twitter.
Amit Shah tables the Bill in Lok Sabha
Rahul's reaction came even as Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted in Lok Sabha that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin are part of Jammu and Kashmir and said "we are ready to give our lives for it".
Moving a resolution for revoking provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019, Shah also said that there has been a long-standing demand for giving Union Territory status to Ladakh which was fulfilled by the Narendra Modi government.
"Kashmir is an integral part of India, there is no doubt about it. When I say Jammu and Kashmir, I include Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin, both are included in the territorial boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir," the home minister said.
"Ladakh including Aksai Chin will be a Union Territory, Both Hill Councils will continue to be active," he said.
Responding to a query on whether the new provisions would also include PoK, Shah said, "We will give our lives for it."
Aksai Chin is a vast area in Ladakh which is currently under Chinese occupation.
Shah said the "president signed a Constitution Order 2019 yesterday, ordering application of all provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir, this means Article 35A is removed".
The House also witnessed uproar, with Congress members and Shah involved in a war of words.
Congress leader faces backlash for PoK comment
Congress Leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the legality behind introducing these bills.
"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...." Chowdhury asked, triggering opposition from treasury benches.
Chowdhury later said he needed clarification on the issue.
Shah said, "These (legislations on JK) are not only legally right but also constitutionally right".
When some members from opposition benches asked why was the home minister appearing so aggressive, Shah replied, "I am aggressive because you think PoK is not a part of India."
Tewari said if Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad are part of India, then it is because of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
To this, Shah said this was an example of discrediting the contribution of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel.
"This House has seen very historical decisions, this bill will be written in golden letters," Shah added.
Dismissing opposition charge that introduction of the bill and the resolution were violation of the rights of the people, Shah said nobody can stop us from introducing a resolution on Kashmir in Parliament.
The home minister also said the UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have an assembly with a chief minister and MLAs.
The government on Monday revoked some provisions of the Article 370 and proposed bifurcation of the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, in a decision that seeks to redraw the map and future of a region at the centre of a protracted militancy movement.
Fulfilling an electoral promise of the BJP less than 90 days after the second Modi government came to power, Shah had announced the decision in the Rajya Sabha, which approved both the resolution and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill.
Trying to pick holes in the bills to do away with special provisions given to Jammu and Kashmir, Congress member Manish Tewari said the move is a "constitutional travesty".
He said changing the boundaries of any state without approval of its state legislature is not in the spirit of Parliament.
"Without the approval of the Constituent Assembly, you cannot do this. This is a wrong interpretation of the Constitution," he said, adding that it was perhaps for the first time that a status of a state has been watered down and made into a UT.
DMK members T R Baalu and Dayanidhi Maran also questioned the absence of National Conference member and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah from the House.
