'Disappointed but not disheartened': Regional J&K political parties react to SC's verdict on Article 370

Mainstream politcal parties in Jammu and Kashmir reacted to the Supreme Court upholding the abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP led Centre. Former Chief Minister and NC Vice President said that he was "disappointed but not disheartened" at the verdict while People's Conference Chief Sajad Lone said justice "yet again eludes the people of J and K".

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Regional mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court upholding the BJP led Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile J&K state. The five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Monday upheld the abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP led Centre on Aug 5, 2019, while holding that the Article was temporary.

“Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul,” former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah reacted to the SC Article 370 verdict in a post on X. People's Conference Chief Sajad Gani Lone too termed the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 “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,” Sajad wrote in a post on X.

Former Chief Minister and President of the Democratic Azad Party, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "We are disappointed by the Supreme Court verdict..." Meanwhile Dr Karan Singh, Congress leader and son of the last Maharaja of princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, welcomed the SC's verdict on Article 370. "I welcome it. Now it has become clear that whatever happened is constitutionally valid...I request PM Modi to restore statehood soon...'' Singh said. He said that “a section of people in J&K who will not be happy with this judgment, my sincere advice is that they should accept the inevitable and they should accept the fact that now this has been done and the Supreme Court has upheld the action and therefore there's no point now unnecessarily hitting their head against the wall”.

“Now my suggestion is that they should turn their energies towards fighting the next elections. That is where the people should now be motivated instead of developing any negativity..." he added. Earlier, People's Democratic Party had said that its President and former CM, Mehbooba Mufti was put under house arrest ahead of the SC verdict on Article 370.

Reacting to the SC's verdict on Article 370, PDP President Mehboba Mufti said that the verdict was "nothing less than a death sentence, adding that it marked the defeat of the idea of India with which the Muslim-majority state had acceded in 1947". "Today an unconstitutional and illegal act that took place in the Parliament was declared legal. It is nothing less than a death sentence not only for Jammu and Kashmir but for the idea of India, Mufti said in a five-minute video message she posted on X".

"People of Jammu and Kashmir have seen so many ups and downs. The SC verdict day is just part of the journey, not the end of the road". "Dont confuse this with the destiny. Our opponents want us to give up and get disheartened to concede defeat. The SC saying that Article 370 was temporary is not our defeat but the defeat of the idea of India," Mehbooba said in a video statement.

Talking to ETV Bharat, Sheeban Ashai, President of Jammu Kashmir People' Party said that "this is grave injustice to all the Kashmiris. The article that binded India and Jammu Kashmir has been erased." When being asked to comment on whether this judgement is in the line of PM Modi's appeal that we need to decrease 'Dil ke Doori between Sringar and Delhi', he said that "this has rather increased. You look at the situation there. It's not normal. But, people sitting in Delhi are deciding the fate of Jammu Kashmir. We will continue to fight."

On whether Kashmiris would accept this ruling, he replied that "You can do it by imposing the security forces as you have been doing for decades...." Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party led by former minister Altaf Bukhari said in a statement that "We are analyzing the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on petitions challenging the decision of August 2019".

"With all due respect to the Hon’ble SC, we had earnestly hoped that the sense of overwhelming loss and disempowerment will be considered and addressed— both in terms of questions of constitutionality as well as the spirit of federalism. We stand by the people of J&K and their struggle for a dignified redressal of their sense of hurt and loss and will put out a detailed statement in due course of time," it added.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP while welcoming the SC verdict, said in a statement, "Realisation of the Modi Government's steadfast resolve of building a strong and resilient Jammu & Kashmir through abrogation of Article 370 has been upheld by the Supreme Court! Today's historic verdict resonates as a resounding declaration of hope, progress and prosperity for Jammu & Kashmir. The BJP vows to ensure a brighter future for J&K, a brighter future for Bharat!"