The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Monday, amid speculation that the government may take some decisions on Jammu and Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad were the first to reach the prime minister’s residence, where the meeting is taking place, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir has been on the edge following deployment of additional security forces in the state last week. Speculation has been rife that the Centre has plans to do away with Article 35A, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land.
The Cabinet normally meets on every Wednesday and the reasons for convening a meeting on Monday has not been disclosed by the government yet.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has condemned the rising tensions in Kashmir in the backdrop of the three most prominent politicians of the Valley being put under house arrest and section 144 imposed in Srinagar.
“What sort of politics is the BJP indulging in here? Democracy is being murdered in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that his party is prepared to raise the issue in the Parliament today and further seek clarification from the prime minister.
