On August 05, 2019 Parliament of India unilaterally passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 containing provisions to reconstitute the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a part of the larger region of Kashmir which has been the subject of UN recognized disputed territory between India and Pakistan since 1947, into two union territories (UTs) called Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and became effective on 31 October 2019.
A bill for the act was introduced by the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, in the Rajya Sabha on 5 August 2019 and was passed on the same day. It was then passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 August 2019 and it received the president’s assent on 9 August 2019. The act consists of 103 clauses, extends 106 central laws to the UTs, repeals 153 state laws, and abolishes the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council among other things.
The introduction of the bill was preceded by a presidential order which indirectly amended Article 370 of the Indian constitution and revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The act has also given powers to the central government to pass a number of executive orders in relation to both the union territories. These orders have resulted in the modification or repeal of over 400 state and central laws with respect to the union territories. The act has been challenged in court through a number of petitions, which are pending for disposal.
A day before constitutional onslaught a stringent clampdown on J&K under military boots including an absolute communication blockade was ordered which allowed the Indian government to clandestinely scrap its special status and split it into more pliable units. The longest-ever lockdown in Kashmir served the purpose of scuttling any public outrage and also ensured that information slipped into a black hole, making an entire population invisible and their grievances inaudible. Kashmiri Lawmakers believe that it is a pathway paved for replicating the Israeli model of occupation and colonization of the West Bank in Kashmir towards disempowerment and dispossession of the locals, particularly Kashmiri Muslims, to exercise hegemonic control through new settlers.
Pakistan strongly condemned this unilateral illegal action by India and declared 05 august as Youm-e-Istehsal and is observed across the country. The whole nation will give a message to their Kashmiri brethren that the people of Pakistan and AJK would always stand with them in their just struggle for right to independence and against the atrocities committed by the Indian forces.
Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control and all over the world will also observe Youm-e-Istehsal to condemn unconstitutional step taken by India on August 5, 2019.The activists of all the political parties of the country will record protest over Indian state terrorism meted out against innocent and unarmed people of IIOJK through rallies and other activities.
The civil society organizations will also arrange seminars and other programs to highlight gross human rights violations against the Kashmiri people.