In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has unanimously upheld the Union government’s 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, declared Article 370 a ‘temporary provision.’
Following the verdict, political figures from various parties shared their perspectives on the outcome. While leaders from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the decision, those from Kashmir, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti, expressed disappointment.
Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad, termed the Supreme Court’s decision as “sad and unfortunate.” Azad acknowledged the widespread discontent in Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “Nobody will be happy with this judgment in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) vice president, Omar Abdullah, expressed disappointment but resilience in the face of the verdict. Abdullah quoted poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, signaling determination: “Dil na umeed tou nahi, Na kaam hi tou hai, Lambi hai gham ki shaam, Magar shaam hi tou hai (my heart is helpless, but doesn’t mean it is hopeless, the evening of sorrow is long, but it is just an evening).”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti went further, describing the Supreme Court’s decision as “nothing less than a death sentence.” Mufti asserted that it marked the defeat of the idea of India with which Jammu and Kashmir had acceded in 1947. She emphasized the perceived loss of the Gandhian India that embraced diversity.
Congress leader and son of the former Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Karan Singh, advised acceptance of the judgment. He urged those opposed to the decision to redirect their energies toward participating in upcoming elections instead of dwelling on negativity.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference chief, Sajad Lone, expressed disappointment, stating, “Justice yet again eludes the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 may have been legally obliterated but will always remain a part of our political aspirations.”
As the nation grapples with diverse reactions, the ramifications of the Article 370 verdict continue to reverberate across political landscapes.
