Srinagar, Dec 11 (UNI)- Kashmir’s mainstream political parties on Monday were “disappointed” after the Supreme Court upheld abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said the “ struggle” would continue and they were prepared for the “long haul.” “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 said in a post on X.
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the fight for “honour and dignity” would continue and the SC verdict was not the end of the road.
“We should not be disheartened. J&K has seen several ups and downs. The SC verdict is not our defeat, but the defeat of the idea of India. …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,” said former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti soon after the Supreme Court judgement.
Another former Chief Minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad said people of J&K were not happy with the verdict.
“ People of J&K were hopeful … The SC bench was good. …It was a mistake to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019. It was done in a hurry. ..J&K political parties should have been also asked…. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are disappointed with this judgment,” Azad told reporters.
Peoples Conference head Sajad Lone said Article 370 may have been legally obliterated but will always remain a “part of our political aspirations.”
The Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 is disappointing. Justice yet again eludes the people of J and K. Article 370 may have been legally obliterated but will always remain a part of our political aspirations.
“In the case of statehood 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,” Lone posted on X.
Earlier in the day, the apex judiciary upheld the presidential proclamation of 2019 abrogating Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
In a unanimous verdict, the five-judge Constitution Bench said Article 370 was a temporary feature and the President had the power to abrogate it as there was no “mala fide”.
The top court also directed the Central Government to hold Assembly election in J&K by September 30, 2024.
Trump Changes His Mind About Testifying In NY Civil Fraud Trial
Affordability For Home Purchases Expected To Improve Better In 2024 : JLL
Omar, Mehbooba Under ‘House Arrest’, Claim Parties, Govt Denies