Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said those who are opposing Article 370 in Supreme Court do not know the advantages and disadvantages of the constitutional provision.
Azad who launched his own Democratic Progressive Azad Party, after quitting Congress said some people supporting the abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court are unaware of the ground situation and history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Those who are opposing (Article 370 in the Supreme Court) do not know the ground situation, history, geography, advantages and disadvantages of the constitutional provision. It was not meant for any particular area, province or religion but was equally beneficial to all – people living in cities and villages,” Azad was quoted by PTI as having said.
He was responding to a question about some parties filing petitions in support of the abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court.
The Centre abrogated Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“I have full faith in the Supreme Court, being the guardian of the Indian Constitution, which will look into all legal aspects of abrogation of Article 370. The Apex court will delve into constitutional procedures adopted to abrogate it,” Azad was quoted as having said.
He added Article 370 was taken away from Jammu and Kashmir “forcibly and unconstitutionally”.
The report mentioned that Azad also expressed grief over the recent killing of three soldiers in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and frequent militancy-related incidents in the border district of Rajouri in the Jammu region.
“The militancy was almost finished (in Rajouri) but over the past six months, several militancy-related incidents claimed the lives of our jawans and the civilians, indicating a revival of militancy which is a matter of grave concern for all of us,” Azad was quoted as having said.
He urged people and security forces to keep vigil against anti-national elements in border areas, the report said.
