Supreme Court gave its verdict on Monday, December  11. In this decision, the Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court has considered the decision of the Central Government to remove Article  370  as constitutionally valid.

Explain that 23  petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Government to remove Article  370  from Jammu and Kashmir. After hearing those petitions, the Supreme Court gave its verdict on Monday, December  11. In this decision, the Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court has considered the decision of the Central Government to remove Article  370  as constitutionally valid. The Supreme Court held that Article 370 was temporarily applicable in Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir has no internal sovereignty of its own. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

PM Modi: ‘This is not only a legal decision but a ray of hope’. He also added, “Today’s decision of the Supreme Court on the removal of Article 370 is historic. In which the constitutionality of the decision taken by the Indian Parliament on  5 August 2019 has been upheld. It is an echo of hope,  development and unity of our brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir and  Ladakh. The court has reinforced the essence of the core of our unity, which we Indians hold upright. I want to assure the fighting people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh that we will keep our promise of fulfilling your dreams. We are dedicated to ensuring that progress reaches not only you but every backward section of society who had to suffer due to Article  370. Today’s verdict is not just a legal verdict but a ray of hope. It is the promise of a bright future and a testimony to our united efforts that will create a strong and united India.”

AmitHome Minister Amit Saha: “I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the decision to remove Article  370.  On  August 5,  2019, PM Modi took a far-sighted decision to remove Article 370. Since then, peace has returned to Jammu and Kashmir. Development and progress have given new meaning to human life in the valley, which was once devastated by violence. Tourism has increased the prosperity and income of the people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh associated with the agriculture sector. Today, the Supreme Court’s decision has proved that the decision to remove Article  370 was completely constitutional.”

BJP President JP Nadda: “The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes the decision given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court regarding Article 370. The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has upheld the judgment,  procedure and purpose given to remove Articles  370 and 35A. Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has done a historic job of connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the main ideology of the country, for this I and crores of our workers express my heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister.”

Shiv Sena  (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant: “We welcome the Supreme Court verdict but the work of rehabilitation of Hindus, end of terrorism and inclusion of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the mainstream has not been done yet.”

Congress Leader P.Chidambaram: ” The verdict needed a careful study, Prima facie, we respectfully disagree with judgment on the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated. Full statehood must be restored immediately. The aspirations of the people of Ladakh must also be fulfilled. We welcome the SC direction to hold Assembly elections. However, we believe elections should be held immediately and there is no reason to wait till September 30, 2024. We are also disappointed that SC did not decide the question of dismembering the state and reducing its status to two union territories.”

Congress Leader Mannu Singhvi: “Democracy, and not autocracy, is the demand of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. Why is the BJP afraid of an elected government?”

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad: “The apex court, which has no political affiliation, was our last hope. Article 370 and Article 35-A were historical features of J&K and the court’s decision will hurt our people and our economy,”

Mehbooba Mufti: “The illegal decision of the Union government in the parliament (on August 5, 2019) and the legal approval granted by the Supreme Court is no less than a death punishment for the idea of India. But we will continue to fight peacefully for our rights. It is the idea of India which has suffered a defeat today. The betrayal has come from them, not us. By terming Article 370 as a ‘temporary’ provision, the country has been weakened while those powers who termed J&K’s accession with India as ‘temporary’ have got strengthened.”

Omar Abdullah: “The BJP succeeded in achieving its political objective after 70 years. We too will continue to strive politically so that whatever was snatched from us on August 5, 2019 is given back. Whether it is possible to again knock on the door of the court will be decided after our lawyers go into the details of the verdict. We knocked on the doors of SC with the hope of justice. I respect the court’s decision. We may have failed, the decision may be disappointing, but it is a temporary setback. Ours is a political fight and we will fight it within the ambit of law.”