The Rajya Sabha has passed the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganization) Bill, 2019, which is set to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will be without a legislature. The Bill was introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah, this morning, which led to a massive uproar in the house.

As per the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, the Ladakh division of the state is a large region but is scarcely populated because of its difficult terrain. Thus, to seek proper development, the population of Ladakh had long been demanding the region to be declared as a Union Territory.

The J&K region was declared to be a Union Territory on account of prevalent cross border terrorism which had compromised internal security of the state.

The Bill was passed in the evening with a majority of 125 to 61 and will most likely be tabled in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Read the Bill