New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah Monday hailed as “historic” the Supreme Court order upholding the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and said it has vindicated the constitutional validity of the Centre’s move and fortified the “very essence of unity”.
“It is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else,” he said.
“I want to assure the resilient people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh that our commitment to fulfilling your dreams remains unwavering. We are determined to ensure that the fruits of progress not only reach you but also extend their benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our society who suffered due to Article 370,” he asserted.
The verdict is not just a legal judgment, it is a beacon of hope, a promise for a brighter future and a testament to the collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India, Modi said on the microblogging platform, using the hashtag ‘NayaJammuKashmir’.
Shah, who had moved the legislation in Parliament to abrogate Article 370 and turned the erstwhile state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — said Prime Minister Modi took a visionary decision five years ago that brought peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union home minister said growth and development have brought new meaning to life in the Valley, which was once torn apart by violence.
Reacting to the ruling, defence minister Rajnath Singh said, “Today the Supreme Court upheld Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to scrap Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution and the process followed for that.”
“This historic decision of the Supreme Court is going to make every Indian happy,” he said on ‘X’.
Hailing the verdict as “historic”, the BJP said the verdict has given a stamp of approval to the move as being “completely constitutional”.
“Since the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have “witnessed a new dawn of peace, prosperity and development. Today the entire region is not just making significant strides in various sectors but the aspirations of its people are being fulfilled,” BJP president J.P. Nadda said.
Taking to ‘X’, Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said the top court’s verdict is yet another victory and a moment of celebration for all the “nationalist people” of the country who dreamt of “complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Bharat” and for which they fought political and legal battles, and even sacrificed their lives.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the verdict “sad and unfortunate”.
He expressed disappointment that the sentiments of the people of J&K and the historical significance of Article 370 were not considered.
Peoples Conference chief Sajjad Lone found the verdict disappointing. He emphasised that while Article 370 may have been legally obliterated, it will remain a part of their political aspirations.
