Jammu and Kashmir News Highlights: In Jammu and Kashmir, mobile communication and Internet services are still suspended. Jammu and Kashmir News Highlights: In Jammu and Kashmir, mobile communication and Internet services are still suspended.

Jammu and Kashmir News Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the “momentous decision” in the Lok Sabha which passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill. The bill seeks to divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. The Parliament also passed the resolution abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.

Taking to Twitter, Modi said “for years, vested interest groups who believed in emotional blackmail never cared for people’s empowerment. J&K is now free from their shackles.” Follow Parliament updates here

The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 seeks to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature similar to Delhi or Puducherry, and Ladakh without one like Chandigarh. It was passed with a two-thirds majority in Rajya Sabha.

Moving the resolution in the Lok Sabha today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Kashmir is an integral part of India, there is no doubt over it. We can die for it.” Meanwhile, the Opposition also questioned the absence of Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah — who were arrested on Monday night. In Jammu and Kashmir, mobile communication and Internet services remain suspended. In an interview to NDTV, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir was like “your body was being carved.”

EXPRESS EDIT/OPINION | Edit: Rupture in history, stitching a future | PB Mehta writes: Blood and betrayal | Ram Madhav writes: Correcting a historic blunder | Manish Sabharwal writes: For Naya Kashmir | Imad Ul Riyaz writes: We are just at the beginning | C. Raja Mohan writes: Possibilities in the Northwest

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