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Business News/ Politics / News/  Lok Sabha passes J&K Bill; Debate leaves Congress-red faced
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Lok Sabha passes J&K Bill; Debate leaves Congress-red faced

Support of crucial Opposition parties and split within Congress emboldens NDA’s position in Lok Sabha
  • BJP-NDA combine have now become more emboldened in the Lok Sabha because of the support of some crucial opposition parties
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during discussion on the resolution to revoke Article 370, in the Lok Sabha, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)Premium
    Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during discussion on the resolution to revoke Article 370, in the Lok Sabha, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

    New Delhi: The debate on the abrogation of Article 370 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday—the last day of the budget session—left the Congress embarrassed as several party members spoke against the stand taken by the central leadership of the party.

    The Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019—by 370 votes as it happens—as well as the resolution supporting the Presidential order revoking Article 370.

    The smooth passage of the resolution supporting the abrogation in both Houses of Parliament has further cemented the position of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the dominant political force that has got its way in this session of Parliament by successfully dividing the Opposition.

    A day after Congress’ chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, Bhubaneswar Kalita, resigned over the party’s stand on Article 370, matters worsened for the main Opposition party on Tuesday.

    Its leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the Union home minister Amit Shah if the Kashmir issue was an internal matter of the country or a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. “You say that it is an internal matter. But it is being monitored since 1948 by the UN, is that an internal matter? We signed Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration, was that an internal matter or bilateral?," said Chowdhury.

    Although the statement made by Chowdhury, according to senior party leaders, was rejected by the top leadership, including former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, they opened the floods gates with more senior leaders expressing dissent. Senior leaders Milind Deora, Deepender Hooda, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Janardan Dwivedi and Ashwani Kumar were among leaders who spoke in favour of the revocation of Article 370.

    The developments should worry the party that is already facing a leadership crisis with uncertainty over the top post after the resignation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president. Not just have senior leaders spoken against Congress’ stance on the issue, but it has been unable to anchor issue-based support from other Opposition and friendly parties.

    “There is a difference of opinion among senior leaders and that is visible now but no one has supported the manner in which this was carried out. We are fine with diverse opinions but naturally this sends a message that our house is not in order," a senior party leader in the Rajya Sabha said, requesting anonymity. After Parliament was adjourned sine die, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) took place over the Kashmir issue.

    “There were concerns that were raised by some members on how long the Union territory status will last for. Questions were raised about it and I would like to assure the House that when things normalize, we have no problem granting full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," Shah told lawmakers in Lok Sabha.

    “This is not a historical blunder but we are rectifying the historical blunder," Shah added, after opposition charges that the government was making a mistake.

    The ruling BJP-NDA combine have now become more emboldened in the Lok Sabha because of the support of some crucial opposition parties and division within the Congress leadership. Opposition disunity has played a crucial role in this session of Parliament as some of the contentious bills were passed by the government with the support of parties outside the NDA.

    The dominance and aggression of the BJP was visible in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday when Shah categorically said that when the bill talks about the state of Jammu and Kashmir, it includes the areas of Giligit-Baltistan and Aksai Chin.

    “Whenever I talk about Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament, it includes the areas under Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin. Parliament has the right to make laws on Jammu and Kashmir. The state is an integral part of India, and borders of the state includes areas under PoK. We can give our life for Kashmir," he said.

    Meanwhile, national security adviser Ajit Doval reached Srinagar on Tuesday following the complete clampdown in the valley. Doval chaired a meeting with senior officials in the state, and instructed state authorities to ensure that essential supplies did not run out.

    Shaswati Das contributed to this story.

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    Published: 07 Aug 2019, 01:00 AM IST
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