 "Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the one who had introduced the resolutions. File image/PTI")
One of the biggest decisions was taken on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government announced the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament, effectively revoking the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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On this day in 2024, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country, facing violent nationwide protests and student-led opposition. Meanwhile, Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead at her Los Angeles home on this day in 1962.
Here is all that happened on this day.
Abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament
The Indian government announced the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament, effectively revoking the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Introduced in 1949, Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir its own constitution and autonomy over internal matters, except defence, foreign affairs, and communications. Its removal marked a major constitutional and political shift.
The process began with Home Minister Amit Shah introducing two resolutions in the Rajya Sabha: a resolution to recommend to the President of India that Article 370 be rendered inoperative, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019. The latter proposed to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two new Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, which would have a legislature, and Ladakh, which would be without one.
The government used Article 370(3), which allows the President to declare the article inoperative, but only with the recommendation of the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. Since that body no longer existed, the government interpreted the state’s legislative powers as resting with the Parliament under President’s Rule.
The move was met with a mix of celebration and controversy. Supporters hailed it as a step toward greater national integration and economic development in the region. Critics, including opposition parties and civil rights groups, called it unconstitutional and undemocratic, pointing to the lack of public consultation and the abrupt communication blackout imposed in the region.
Sheikh Hasina flees Bangladesh
In a first since its creation, Bangladesh saw its longest-serving Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, resign and flee the country after weeks of intense and often violent anti-government protests.
At approximately 2:25 pm BST, Hasina departed by helicopter with her sister, ultimately landing at the Hindon Air Force base near Delhi via Agartala. Her departure was abrupt, with security and family urging her to flee swiftly without a farewell address. As she exited, crowds celebrated defiantly, climbing statues of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and scattering into the streets in jubilation.
Immediately after she fled, Army Chief General Waker‑uz‑Zaman addressed the nation while confirming her resignation and stating the military would form an interim government to restore order. President Mohammed Shahabuddin swiftly dissolved the parliament and released political prisoners, including opposition leader Khaleda Zia.
Student leaders and civil society nominated Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead the caretaker government, aiming to guide Bangladesh toward democratic governance and constitutional reform. His interim administration quickly began planning a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.
Marilyn Monroe found dead
One of the most iconic stars of Hollywood, actress Marilyn Monroe, was found dead at her home in Los Angeles on August 5, 1962. Her housekeeper, Eunice Murray, discovered Monroe’s lifeless body in the early morning hours, locked inside her bedroom. Authorities were called, and shortly after 4:00 am, her death was officially confirmed. She was found lying face down, clutching a telephone, with empty pill bottles nearby.
The coroner’s report listed the cause of death as ‘probable suicide’ due to acute barbiturate poisoning. Monroe had a well-documented history of depression, insomnia, and substance abuse, and she had previously been hospitalised for overdoses. Yet, the circumstances surrounding her death immediately sparked speculation and controversy, with many questioning whether it was accidental, intentional, or even the result of foul play.
At the time of her death, Monroe was one of the most famous women in the world. Her films, beauty, and complicated personal life, including high-profile relationships with baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, playwright Arthur Miller, and alleged connections to President John F. Kennedy, had made her an enduring cultural figure. She had recently been fired from the film ‘Something’s Got to Give’, but reports suggested she was negotiating a comeback.
Her untimely passing sent shockwaves across the globe, extinguishing one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
This Day, That Year
>> On this day in 2011, Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister of Thailand.
>> US President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers who were on strike on this day in 1981.
>> The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom signed the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty in Moscow in 1963.