PM Narendra Modi to address nation today | Photo Credit: IANS

Key Highlights PM Modi to address nation at 8 pm today (August 8) Modi likely to speak on bifurcation of J&K into UTs, abrogation of Article 370 Modi last addressed the nation on March 27

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm today (August 8) in a televised broadcast, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The Prime Minister is likely to speak on the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories. It was earlier reported that Modi will addres the nation through a radio broadcast.

During his address, the PM Modi is likely to speak on the government’s latest move in Jammu & Kashmir, according to the news agency PTI. It was on March 27 that PM Modi last addressed the nation when India launched an anti-satellite missile (A-Sat) and downed a live satellite.

The Parliament on Tuesday (August 6) approved a resolution abrogating the special status accorded to the troubled northern state under Article 370. Both the Houses of the Parliament also cleared the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, clearing the way for the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir which is proposed to have a Legislative Assembly on the lines of Delhi and Puducherry and Ladakh UT without legislature. The Bill now awaits Presidential consent after which it will become law.

Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi will be addressing the nation at 8 PM today. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 8, 2019

On Tuesday, Modi hailed the passage of the Bill in the Lower House of the Parliament lauding the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh for their “courage and resilience”.

He also launched an attack at the critics of the Bill, asserting the “vested interest groups” never cared for people’s empowerment and emotionally blackmailed them.

“Special congratulations to the people of Ladakh! It is a matter of great joy that their long-standing demand of being declared a Union Territory has been fulfilled. This decision will give impetus to the overall prosperity of the region and ensure better developmental facilities,” Modi tweeted.

Just a day ahead of the government moving a resolution for the abrogation of Article 370, section 144 was imposed in the state of Jammu & Kashmir with a total communication blackout. Pakistan on Wednesday shut down the Wagah border and downgraded its diplomatic relationship with India in wake of the Indian Parliament having abrogated provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting presided over by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at his office.

