Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced a resolution in the Upper House seeking the abrogation of Article 370, the constitutional provision that gives Jammu and Kashmir special status. The government placed four bills and legislative proposals before the House and aimed to have the resolution passed the same day.

Proceedings in Parliament

Opposition members tried to interrupt as Shah read out the proposal, but he carried on with the remaining items. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi rebuked the opposition benches, saying, “Amit Shah is rectifying the historical blunder of Jawaharlal Nehru.” Scrapping Article 370 had long been part of the BJP‘s agenda.

Shah’s statement followed meetings of the Union Cabinet and of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. No official briefing was given on the Cabinet’s decisions. The BJP had already issued a three-line whip asking all its MPs to be present between 5 and 7 August, saying very important business would be taken up.

Lockdown in the Valley

Kashmir was put under a security lockdown. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both former chief ministers, were among the political leaders whose movement was restricted, and mobile, landline and internet services were cut, with key officials given satellite phones.

An order issued late on Sunday night barred public movement, shut all educational institutions and banned public meetings and rallies. The administration denied that a curfew had been declared in Srinagar but indicated that people needed permission to go out, and said identity cards of essential services staff would serve as passes.

Reaction from regional parties

Regional parties including the National Conference and the PDP accused the administration of stoking unease and vowed to resist any attempt to remove the state’s constitutional protections. They also urged India and Pakistan to avoid escalating tensions. After an all-party meeting on Sunday, Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre had offered no assurance despite their warnings about tampering with Articles 35A and 370.

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: election news

Originally published on 5 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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