New Delhi/Aug,5: The central government, on Monday, scrapped Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, through an order signed by President Ram Nath Kovind. In addition, Home Minister Amit Shah also introduced a Bill bifurcating the State of Jammu of Kashmir. The State of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two union territories (UT) — the Union Territory of Ladakh and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The UT of Ladakh will not have a legislature.
“The Ladakh Division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir has a large area but is sparsely populated with very difficult terrain. There has been a long-pending demand of the people of Ladakh to give it the status of a Union Territory to enable them to realise their aspirations,” a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah said. “The Union Territory of Ladakh will be without Legislature,” the statement said.
“Further, keeping in view the prevailing internal security situation, fuelled by cross-border terrorism in the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, a separate Union Territory for Jammu and Kashmir is being created. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be with legislature,” the statement added.
