PM Narendra Modi govt's move breaks J&K into pieces: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Addressing mediapersons outside Parliament, Azad said Jammu and Kashmir, which is different culturally, politically, historically and geographically, was kept together by Article 370.

"They have not just scrapped Article 370, Article 35 A, but also divided the state.This government has decapitated India. Jammu and Kashmir was the head of India... Jammu Kashmir ke tukde tukde kar diye (they have broken the state into pieces). Now there will be lieutenant governor in the state. BJP has finished the existence of Jammu and Kashmir, by dividing it like this. BJP is playing with the unity and integrity of the state and the Constitution. They are betraying the nation", Mr Azad charged.

Taking on the Modi government, the senior Congress leader said, "These people (the BJP) have come to power late so they do not know. They have not considered the strategic aspects. We have a long border with China, we have a border with Pakistan and with Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. To play around with border state, you need the cooperation of the people too".

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah had moved resolution seeking abrogation of Article 370 in Rajya Sabha, amid protest from opposition parties.

Another Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram described the government's move as 'black day in the Constitutional history of India'.

"We anticipated that we have embarked upon a misadventure, but even in our wildest dreams, we did not think that they will take such catastrophic step", Chidambaram said.

Image: UNI