‘Betrayal, catastrophe, dangerous’ J&K leaders livid as India scraps Article 370 and bifurcates the state

• The decisions are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference, said former CM Omar Abdullah.
• It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent, said Mehbooba Mufti, former CM.
• Both Abdullah and Mufti have been under house arrest since Sunday night.

Kashmir’s political leaders have expressed their anger and anguish at government’s move to take away the state’s special status and dissolve it into two union territories.

Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who were placed under house arrest expressed their shock and feeling of betrayal as the bill was moved in the parliament.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, which does away with the special status given to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Opposition leaders in the state and former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti expressed their shock and feeling of betrayal as the bill was moved in the parliament. Both the leaders have been under house arrest since Sunday night.

Betrayal of trust: Omar Abdullah

Former Chief Minister and leader of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Abdullah released a statement soon after the amendment was moved in the Parliament.

“Government of India’s unilateral and shocking decisions today are a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had reposed in India when the state acceded to it in 1947. The decision will have far reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against people of the state as had been warned by an all parties meeting in Srinagar yesterday.

GOI has resorted to deceit and stealth in recent weeks to lay ground for these disastrous decisions. Our darkest apprehensions have been unfortunately come true after the GOI and its representatives in J&K lied to us that nothing major was planned. The announcement was made after the entire state, particularly the Kashmir Valley, was turned into a garrison. Those of who gave the democratic voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground.

The scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A raise fundamental questions on the State’s accession because that was done on the very terms enunciated in these articles. The decisions are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference. A long and tough battle lies ahead, we are ready for that.”

Darkest day in Indian democracy: Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir took to Twitter and said, “Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject two-nation theory in 1947 and align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal and unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.”

Mufti further wrote, “It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises. People like us who placed faith in Parliament, the temple of democracy have been deceived. Those elements in J&K who rejected the constitution & sought resolution under the UN have been vindicated. This will exacerbate the alienation Kashmiris feel.”

Constitution has been torn: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Voicing his dissent in the parliament, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Kashmir is under curfew and the state looks like its in a war situation. We stand by the constitution of India. We would lay down our life for it, but I condemn the act of those who burn or tear the constitution.”