The rights bodies have expressed concern over the resolution abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir even as Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the resolution removing the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution The resolution was adopted by Lok Sabha with 351 members voting in its support and 72 against it, while one member abstained. Whereas the bill relating to creation of two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- was passed by 370 votes in favour and 70 against in the lower house. The resolution and bill were approved by Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Amensty International India stated that the revocation is expected to cause unrest and wide-scale protests in the region. So far, the government’s response to dealing with protests in the state has been heavy-handed, and have led to gross human rights violations over the past few years. Recent indefinite suspensions of telecommunications services in Jammu and Kashmir are also not in line with international human rights standards. While the authorities have the right to maintain public order, they must respect the right of the people to protest peacefully.
Human Rights Watch’s South Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly said, “the government has a responsibility to ensure security in Kashmir, but that means respecting the human rights of everyone, including protesters.” “The government got off to a bad start by detaining political leaders, banning public meetings, and shutting down the internet.”
While replying to the debate on resolution for abrogating some provisions of Article 370 Home Minister Amit Shah stated in Lok Sabha that Article 370 was creating doubts over Jammu and Kashmir's relations with India. He dismissed the opposition charges that the government was committing a mistake while denying that it was a historical blunder. He further said, “we are rectifying the historical blunder".
He also refuted the suggestion that abrogation of Article 370 was "communal agenda" and said the provision in the Constitution was discriminatory and against the minorities, women and welfare of the people.