India ends special status for Jammu & Kashmir

NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — We’ll have in depth coverage in primetime about a striking move by the Modi government. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah announced the elimination of Article 370 in the Indian constitution that gives Jammu & Kashmir special status. That provision guaranteed significant autonomy for this Muslim-majority region. Now Jammu and Kashmir will be a union territory with a legislature. Ladakh will also be union territory, but without a legislature.

With the plight of Kashmir lingering over India and Pakistan for more than 70 years, addressing this matter was a key campaign promise by the recently re-elected Prime Minister & the BJP.

Backlash online and in parliament was swift from Prime Minister Modi’s opponents. Security has been tightened in Jammu & Kashmir, with all communication lines suspended and local politicians put under house arrest.

The US State Department said they were following developments “closely.”

Pakistan deemed the move as “illegal” and “in breach of international law and several UN Security Council resolutions.” Prime Minister Imran Khan is also trying to ramp up international support against the move.

While the repeal was approved in parliament and given presidential approval, you can expect the decision to be challenged in the courts.

Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.