Following the Supreme Court’s recent decision backing the government’s move to remove Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, different political parties in the INDIA alliance showed varying reactions.
The Congress, while being cautious, disagreed with how Article 370 was removed. They clarified they hadn’t demanded its restoration but urged for the quick return of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir along with immediate Assembly elections.
Within the group of parties in the INDIA bloc, there was a mix of opinions. The Shiv Sena expressed their support for the decision, hoping for elections in Kashmir. However, the CPI(M) voiced concerns, feeling that the verdict might impact India’s federal structure negatively.
Even among Congress members, viewpoints differed. Some supported the court’s decision, pointing out positive changes in Kashmir since Article 370’s removal. However, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed dissatisfaction over the court not deciding on reducing J&K’s status to Union Territories. He reiterated the Congress’s demand for full statehood for J&K and immediate elections.
When asked whether the Congress would reinstate Article 370 if they came to power, Chidambaram clarified that they never sought its restoration but highlighted the importance of following the Constitution.
Other parties like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference criticized the verdict, while the Shiv Sena stood in favor. PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti considered the ruling as detrimental to J&K and India’s identity. Omar Abdullah from the National Conference regretted the decision but remained hopeful for a future restoration of J&K’s identity and dignity.
SP’s Akhilesh Yadav supported the court’s decision, emphasizing that the questions posed earlier remained unanswered. The CPI(M) raised concerns about the impact on federalism and questioned how this ruling might affect other states.
However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had supported the removal of Article 370 in 2019, has not yet shared their thoughts on this recent development.
