Almost four years after the abrogation of Article 35A and 370 that gave special status to Jammu Kashmir, the political spectrum of the region is yet again abuzz with the debate of its restoration.
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The fresh debate is triggered post the listing of the petitions challenging the August 05 decision by India’s Apex court. The listing of the cases comes a few days after the former chief minister of Jammu Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the chief justice of Indian demanding an early hearing of petitions challenging the unilateral abrogation of Articles 35 A and 370 of the Indian constitution.
Major political parties from Kashmir and Jammu excluding the Bhartiya Janta Party have called for the restoration of Article 370. The parliamentarians from Kashmir have called for its restoration in the Indian parliament too.
Though the debate is being avoided in social circles by Kashmiris and people of Jammu alike, but to private spaces and discussions, Article 370 has returned to the table. Politicians including the former chief Ministers of Jammu Kashmir have welcomed the decision of the Supreme court.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said, “Welcome Hon’ble SC’s decision to finally hear petitions pending since 2019 challenging the illegal abrogation of Article 370. I hope justice is upheld & delivered for the people of J&K. The SC ruling on Article 370 maintained that the provision can be abrogated only on the recommendation of the J&K constituent assembly.”
Omar Abdullah who has also filed a petition against what he called an unconstitutional decision taken by the BJP took to twitter and said, “Finally the bench is constituted. I look forward to the hearings beginning in right earnest now.”
Chief Spokesperson of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, an amalgam of various political organizations demanding the restoration of Articles 35A and 370, MY Tarigami has issued a detailed statement to welcome the decision of the SC to hear the petitions.
“Welcoming the decision of the constitutional bench, albeit delayed, to take up a clutch of petitions challenging the abrogation of article 370 & division of the historic state. The move was an assault on the constitutional order and was taken with out the consent of the people,” he said.
He expressed hope that the “unilateral decision” taken on August 5, 2019 is rolled back and justice delivered.
Ashwin Handa from Jammu said, “We wholeheartedly thank and express our happiness that the Supreme Court has formed a five-member committee to hear the petitions for the wrongful removal of Jammu and Kashmir #Article370. Now this has raised a hope among the people of Jammu Kashmir that the decision of the Supreme Court will be in the interest of the people of Jammu Kashmir,”
Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, a Lawyer who is also one of the petitioners against abrogation of Article 370 said, “The entire population of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is reposing hope and faith in the Supreme Court of India.”
“We will welcome every step taken by the honourable Supreme Court. People have faith in the judiciary… As far as the abrogation of Article 370 is concerned, the majority of the people are about the issue… We expect the verdict will be in our favour. This will be a big win for the people of Jammu Kashmir”, said GM Shaheen JD(U) on the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging Article 370.