Chandigarh: Terming the revocation of Article 370 as “totally unconstitutional”, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Monday flayed the manner in which the central government has decided to bifurcate the state.
“The Constitution of India had been rewritten without following any legal provisions. Such a historic decision should not have been taken and pushed through in this arbitrary manner,” he said in a statement issued after the end of the second day of the monsoon session.
“This will set a bad precedent as it would mean that the Centre could reorganise any state in the country by simply imposing President’s rule.”
The chief minister also prohibited any kind of celebrations or protests in the state on the grounds that it could vitiate the atmosphere. Amarinder also reviewed the law and order situation in Punjab amid apprehension of an adverse reaction from Pakistan to the developments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan may not take this lightly and could resort to some act against India, the CM warned, asking the state police to be ready for any eventuality during an emergency meeting with the top civil and police brass.
No effort at evolving consensus: Capt
No effort was made to evolve a consensus on this vital matter of national security and concern, Amarinder said, asserting that given the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue, any decision should have been taken after following due process of democratic and legal norms.
Even the Presidential order reorganising Jammu and Kashmir and scrapping Article 370 had effectively bypassed the parliamentary requirement for a two-thirds majority through a constitutional amendment, he said.
“None of the stakeholders was taken into confidence, and there was no discussion with other political parties preceding the unilateral decision of the central government,” the chief minister said. “The BJP is using its brute majority to bulldoze democratic and constitutional norms.”
CM ups security for Kashmiri students
The chief minister has increased security for the around 8,000 Kashmiri students in Punjab and has directed superintendents of police and deputy commissioners to meet them and talk to them personally.
The CM, who is personally monitoring the situation, has ordered scaling up of security in Punjab’s districts that border Kashmir. He reiterated his earlier directions to the police and the district administration to ensure smooth and safe movement of those leaving Kashmir via Punjab.
The border areas of the state have been on heightened alert for the past two days, since tourists and Amarnath Yatris were asked to leave the Valley, citing security concerns.
Also read: Modi govt wanted to scrap Article 370 in February. Pulwama CRPF attack forced postponement