Abrogation of Article 370: J&K Leaders Call SC Verdict ‘Disappointing’, Say ‘Struggle Will Continue’

The Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the Centre’s order on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which granted special privileges to the region, received political reactions, with J&K leaders expressing their “disappointment” on Monday.

“There was hope from court, but they have interpreted the Constitution. It was a mistake to abrogate Article 370. J&K political parties should have also been consulted, said former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Former J&K CM and vice-president of Jammu Kashmir National Conference Omar Abdullah said he is “disappointed but not disheartened” with the judgment. “The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul. #WeShallOvercome #Article370,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP’s national president JP Nadda commended the Narendra Modi government for doing “historic work” in J&K, and said his party welcomes today’s verdict by the Supreme Court. “The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court has upheld the decision given to remove Section 370 and 35A, its process and objective. The government of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has done the historic work of including Jammu and Kashmir in the main ideology of the country, for this, I and crores of our workers, express our heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister.”

The top court also directed the Centre on Monday to conduct assembly elections in J&K by September, 2024.

“Now, it has become clear that whatever happened is constitutionally valid…I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore statehood soon,” said senior Congress leader and Maharaja Hari Singh’s son Karan Singh as he “welcomed” the SC verdict.

Member of Lok Sabha Karti Chidambaram told News18, “The SC has not set any timeline for the statehood but I hope the government will take the election deadline as the deadline to restore statehood. It is unprecedented that a state was demoted to a UT. I wish they would restore the statehood. The people of J&K deserve to have a full state.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “We welcome the decision but the things like rehabilitation of Hindus, putting an end to terrorism, making the people of J&K joining mainstream, have not happened yet…”

Leaders Under House Arrest

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) headed by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed to have been placed under house arrest, while certain restrictions were also placed on Gupkar Road Housing, the residence of prominent leaders including former chief minister Omar Abdullah, while the verdict was being announced today.

Mehbooba’s daughter Iltija Mufti said they have been placed under house arrest with a posse of policemen deployed at their Khimber residence on the outskirts of the city.

On house arrest reports, Omar Abdullah said, “Azad Sb is truly Azad. He’s free to visit his party office while some of us are locked up with our gates chained. Media personnel aren’t being allowed on Gupkar road to take any reactions from us. Mother of democracy? More like ‘aise taise’ Democracy”.

Police, however, neither confirmed nor denied the development.

L-G Manoj Sinha called the reports on house arrest “totally baseless”. “No one has been put under house arrest or arrested due to political reasons in J&K. It is an attempt to spread rumours”, he said.

Meanwhile, the officials said policemen have been deployed in numbers on the road leading to high-security Gupkar.

A posse of police personnel was deployed at the entry point of Gupkar Road and journalists were not allowed anywhere near the residence of the National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah.

The officials said strict vigil is being maintained across Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order.

Kashmir zone Inspector General said movement of vehicles carrying VIPs and protected persons in “troublesome areas” should also be avoided.

The Cyber Police, Kashmir, has advised social media users to use the platforms responsibly and refrain from sharing rumours, fake news, hate speeches or obscene, violent and defamatory content.