New Delhi: Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, asserted on Sunday that those opposing the abrogation of Article 370 lack an understanding of the history and geography of the Union territory. He made these comments amidst the Supreme Court’s ongoing hearings on a set of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Indian government’s decision on August 5, 2019, to revoke the special status guaranteed to the erstwhile state under Article 370.
Coinciding with the fourth anniversary of this highly debated move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lauded the transformation of Kashmir, citing a new era of peace, development, and prosperity since the annulment of Article 370.
Ghulam Nabi Azad indirectly criticised regional parties without naming them. He stated, “Those who are opposing the revocation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court are uninformed about the ground reality as well as the history and geography of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 was not confined to any specific region, province, or religion; it extended its benefits impartially to all.” The former further remarked, “I have complete faith in the Supreme Court. I am confident it will thoroughly examine all aspects of this decision to revoke Article 370.”
In an official statement, the BJP underscored, “The abrogation of Article 370 has ushered in peace, development, and prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir.”
On the fourth anniversary of the Article 370 revocation, which occurred on August 5, former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Mehbooba Mufti, alleged that she and other senior party members were placed under “house arrest.”
During earlier hearings, a five-judge Supreme Court Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud posed a critical question: “How can a provision (Article 370), which was explicitly designated as temporary in the Constitution, transform into permanence after the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly concluded its tenure in 1957?” The judgement argued that Parliament could not have used its jurisdiction as Jammu and Kashmir’s legislature to assist in the repeal of Article 370 since such an exercise of power was not authorised under Article 354 of the Constitution.
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