West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that her party, the Trinamool Congress, would firmly oppose the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which seeks to split the state into two union territories.

Banerjee’s objections

Speaking to reporters at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport before leaving for Chennai, Banerjee said the Centre ought to have consulted all political parties before deciding to end the constitutional provisions that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. She was travelling to Chennai to unveil a statue of former chief minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi.

“There was no vote or discussion on the Kashmir issue. This is not democratic. We will oppose it tooth and nail,” she said, adding that Kashmiris too should have been consulted.

On the Rajya Sabha walkout

TMC members in the Rajya Sabha had walked out during voting on the bill. Banerjee rejected the suggestion that this had helped the bill pass, saying a walkout did not amount to support for it.

Background

On Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah sought the Lok Sabha’s leave for legislation creating two union territories, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, out of the state. The Centre also revoked Article 370, the basis of the state’s special status.

What happened next

Parliament ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 on 5-6 August 2019, and the state was reorganised into two union territories.

See also: political leaders

Originally published on 6 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us