SC’s Article 370 verdict: Cong says debate over; demands immediate statehood restoration, polls

New Delhi, Dec 11: With the Supreme Court unanimously upholding the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, the Congress Monday said the debate over the issue has ended but demanded immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and holding of assembly elections there.
The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and directed restoration of statehood “at the earliest” as well as holding elections to the assembly by September 30 next year.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters along with party colleague Abhishek Singhvi, P Chidambaram said the judgement has decided many issues but has left open some that are also vitally important.
“It has also held as ultra vires how Article 367 was invoked to amend part of Article 370. Hence the judgement needs careful study. Prima facie, we respectfully disagree with the judgement on how Article 370 was abrogated,” Chidambaram said.
“We reiterate the Congress Working Committee resolution dated August 6, 2019, that Article 370 deserved to be honoured until it was amended strictly in accordance with the Constitution,” he said.
The Congress is also disappointed that the Supreme Court did not decide on the question of dismembering the state and reducing its status to two Union Territories, he said.
“That question has been reserved for adjudication in a suitable case in the future. The Congress has always demanded the restoration of full statehood for what has become the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We welcome the Supreme Court’s verdict. Full statehood must be restored immediately,” Chidambaram asserted.
He added that the aspirations of the people of Ladakh must also be fulfilled.
“We welcome the Supreme Court’s direction to hold assembly elections. However, we believe the elections should be held immediately and there is no reason to wait until September 30, 2024,” Chidambaram said.
“When elections are held, the people of Jammu and Kashmir will have an opportunity to express their views on the crucial questions that were debated in the Supreme Court — an opportunity that has been denied to them so far,” he said.
Since its accession, Jammu and Kashmir has been an integral part of India, the former home minister asTo a question that the provision itself was temporary, Chidambaram said, “I don’t think there was any debate that the provision was temporary. The debate at that time was whether the temporary provision can be removed except in accordance with the Constitution.” To another question, he said the Supreme Court has held that abrogation of Article 370 using the power under Article 367 is valid.
“It is the judgement of the Supreme Court and all of us are bound by it. But prime facie we are saying that we respectfully disagree with the procedure followed. Even in the CWC resolution we said Article 370 must be honoured until it is repealed or amended in accordance with the Constitution.” At the moment, the verdict of the Supreme Court is that Article 370 was amended in accordance with the law, Chidambaram added.
About the debate over the two Jammu and Kashmir-related bills in Lok Sabha during which Home Minister Amit Shah stated that there has been a significant improvement as far as the security situation is concerned, he said data shows terrorist incidents, killing of security forces and other incidents continue unabated.
On whether the debate over Article 370 abrogation has ended, Singhvi said, “Today, this debate has ended. You are forgetting one thing. The Congress is not a party in any way in these petitions that it will file any review petition… So, this decision is final and there has never been any such agenda or announcement of ours that we will reconsider it.” “Democracy, and not autocracy, is the demand of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. Why is the BJP afraid of an elected government,” he posed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Congress welcomed the Supreme Court orders J-K Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani said, “We are proud that it was the Congress leadership led by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who introduced Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.” He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were looking forward to special provisions for protection of their rights over land and jobs and the Congress is promise-bound to ensure these.
The Congress’ Ladakh unit said Union Territory status to the region without legislation and constitutional safeguards to protect land and jobs for the locals is incomplete.
SC verdict on validity of Article 370 abrogation gets varied
reactions in J&K
The Supreme Court upholding the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 evoked varied reactions from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Conference vowing to continue its struggle while the BJP welcomed it and said the judgment will be honoured in “letter and spirit”.
The ruling sparked a range of reactions, reflecting the complex and deeply held views on the issue.
As the apex court’s Constitution bench finished delivering its verdict, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed his disappointment on ‘X’ but vowed to continue the struggle.
While upholding the government’s decision on Article 370, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court also directed that statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest and said steps should be taken to conduct elections to the Assembly in the Union Territory by September 30 next year.
J-K BJP chief Ravinder Raina welcomed the verdict, stating that they honour and respect it in letter and spirit. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to holding assembly elections and restoring statehood to J-K.
“We are proud of our country, Constitution and our judiciary. We respect and honour the judgment of the Supreme Court in true letter and spirit,” Raina told PTI.
He said the Centre has made it clear it is ready to hold assembly elections but the decision has to be taken by the Election Commission. (PTI)