As India celebrates the 71st Republic Day on January 26, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir saw it's first R-Day as a UT after the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two union territories last year. On the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu hoisted the national flag in J&K and said that the abrogation of "temporary provisions" has "driven away the financial and legal obstacles" between J&K and rest of India. Officials informed that access would be restored after Republic Day celebrations were over on Sunday. In accordance with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, J&K along with its democratic institutions were reorganised into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh-following Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370. The two union territories came into existence at the stroke of midnight on 31 October.

Source: dna January 26, 2020 07:52 UTC