From Owaisi to J&K leaders, here are some reactions to SC verdict on Article 370

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi expressed strong disapproval of the Supreme Court's verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He took a jibe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting they might attempt to convert major cities like  Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad into union territories.

What is SC verdict on Article 370?

The Supreme Court upheld the Central government's 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 in J&K on Monday. The court also refused to reverse the decision to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

The Apex Court upheld the Central government's 2019 decision to revoke and repeal Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The court also refused to change the decision on the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. 

"We are not satisfied with this decision," Owaisi stated. "Today, you made one state into two UTs. Parliament is speaking for them, not their Assembly. The Supreme Court also upheld the reorganization of Ladakh as a Union Territory. So this can be done with anyone also. Now, in the coming days, BJP will try to make the union territories of Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, and no one will be able to stop it," he warned.

Mehbooba Mufti's response to SC verdict

Owaisi's statement resonated with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's response, who saw the SC's verdict as a blow to the idea of India. "We should not be disheartened," Mufti said. "J&K has seen several ups and downs. SC's verdict stating Article 370 was a temporary provision, is not our defeat, but the defeat of the idea of India."

She expressed strong disappointment over the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, citing restrictions and house arrests. "Today J&K was converted into a jail," Mufti stated. "This is a political war which has been going on for ages, and a lot of people have sacrificed their lives for this. We will not leave this, we have to come together and fight."

Karan Singh, the congress leader who welcomes SC verdict

Meanwhile, Congress leader and the son of Jammu and Kashmir's last emperor Hari Singh, Karan Singh welcomed the Apex court's verdict and urged everyone to accept it.

Hari Singh said, "A section of people in J&K who will not be happy with this judgment, my sincere advice is that they should accept the inevitable and they should accept the fact that now this has been done and the Supreme Court has upheld the action and therefore there's no point now unnecessarily hitting their head against the wall."