Former Chief Ministers of Indian occupied Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, and Omar Abdullah are arrested. They have been placed under house arrest since last evening.
The BJP-led government’s move on Monday morning to abolish the state’s special status had triggered a series of tweets from the two leaders.
Read More: Articles 370 and 35A – How they sustain Kashmir’s special status
Omar Abdullah has already confirmed that his party might challenge the government’s move in court.
Abdullah said, “The scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A raises fundamental questions on the State’s accession because that was done on the very terms enunciated in these Articles. The decisions are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference. A long and tough battle lies ahead”.
Habiba Mufti, chief of the People’s Democratic Party that ruled the state has been vocal about the events in the state since the troop deployments began last week.
In her tweets, she had declared the day as the “darkest” in Indian democracy and accused the government of having “sinister” desires.
GOIs intention is clear & sinister. They want to change demography of the only muslim majority state in India , disempower Muslims to the extent where they become second class citizens in their own state.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
“Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K,” Mehbooba Mufti added.
Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 5, 2019
The government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed a bill by overruling Articles 370 and 35A, proposing the Jammu and Kashmir state be split into two union territories fully under the rules and power of New Delhi.
India’s move on Monday came after the Indian government imposed a major security clampdown in the region amid escalating tensions following a massive stationing of troops.