The SC upheld the government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Published Dec 11, 2023 | 2:05 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2023 | 2:10 PM
Mehabooba Mufti, Narendra Modi, Omar Abdullah.
Hailing the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution as “historic”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Monday, 11 December, that it is not just a legal judgment, but a “beacon of hope” and a testament to the collective resolve to build a stronger and more united India.
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader Omar Abdullah, however, said he was disappointed over the verdict. But he said he was not disheartened and that the struggle would continue.
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) president Mehabooba Mufti said their fight for honour and dignity would continue.
“The people of J&K are not going to lose hope or give up. Our fight for honour and dignity will continue regardless. This isn’t the end of the road for us,” she wrote on X along with a video message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She said the verdict was just another on the road to the people’s goal.
The people of J&K are not going to lose hope or give up. Our fight for honour and dignity will continue regardless. This isn’t the end of the road for us. pic.twitter.com/liRgzK7AT7
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 11, 2023
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the verdict “sad and unfortunate”, but said “we have to accept it”.
In a post on X, Modi said the Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is “historic” and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by Parliament on August 5, 2019.
“It is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else,” he said.
“I want to assure the resilient people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh that our commitment to fulfilling your dreams remains unwavering,” the prime minister added.
“We are determined to ensure that the fruits of progress not only reach you but also extend their benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our society who suffered due to Article 370,” he asserted.
The verdict is not just a legal judgment, it is a beacon of hope, a promise for a brighter future and a testament to the collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India, the prime minister said on the microblogging platform, using the hashtag “NayaJammuKashmir”.
Today's Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019; it is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2023
“Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said it took the BJP decades to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and added that they are also prepared for the long haul.
“It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul,” he said.
Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul. #WeShallOvercome #Article370
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Peoples Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone said the Supreme Court verdict was “disappointing” and justice has yet again “eluded” the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 is disappointing. Justice yet again eludes the people of J and K,” Lone said.
He said Article 370 may have been legally obliterated, but will always remain a part of our political aspirations.
In the case of statehood, Lone said, the Supreme Court “sidestepped even commenting on it, thus protecting the entire country from any future misuse, by citing precedence”.
“Yet the same misuse was subtly endorsed in J&K. Let us hope at a future date, justice wakes up from its slumber of pretence,” the PC president said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict, saying the ruling has proved that the 5 August, 2019 decision was “completely constitutional”.
In a series of posts on X soon after the Supreme Court verdict, Shah, the architect of the entire move to abrogate Article 370, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a visionary decision five years ago that brought peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I welcome the Honourable Supreme Court of India’s verdict upholding the decision to abolish Article 370. On August 5, 2019, PM Narendra Modi took a visionary decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then peace and normalcy have returned to J&K,” he said.
After the abrogation of #Article370, the rights of the poor and deprived have been restored, and separatism and stone pelting are now things of the past. The entire region now echoes with melodious music and cultural tourism. The bonds of unity have strengthened, and integrity…
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) December 11, 2023
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Union government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct elections in the assembly by 30 September next year.
The apex court also directed that statehood to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest.
Writing the judgement for himself and Justices Gavai and Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said Article 370 of the Constitution was a temporary provision and the president has the power to revoke it.
The apex court also upheld the validity of the decision to carve out the union territory of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August, 2019. On that day, the government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The erstwhile state does not have internal sovereignty different from other states of the country, the CJI said.
(With PTI inputs)
