Article 370: A death sentence, defeat of the idea of India - Mehbooba Mufti on verdict
Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Article 370 abrogation is «nothing less than a death sentence», adding that it marked the defeat of the idea of India with which the Muslim-majority state had acceded in 1947. «Today an unconstitutional and illegal act that took place in the Parliament was declared legal. It is nothing less than a death sentence not only for Jammu and Kashmir but for the idea of India,» Mufti said in a five-minute video message she posted on X.
«The SC has said that the Article 370 is temporary, which is why it was removed. This is not only our defeat but also the defeat of the idea of India. This is the defeat of the imagination of India, the Gandhian India with which Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, rejecting Pakistan, joined hands with the Hindus, Buddhists Sikhs and Christians, the country of Gandhi.
Today marks the defeat of that idea of India,» she added.
The former chief minister urged the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh not to be disheartened or lose hope over the apex court's decision.
«Don't lose heart, don't lose hope.
Jammu and Kashmir has seen a lot of ups and downs. The SC verdict today is a halt, it is not our destination. Don't make the mistake of considering it as the end.
Our opponents want us to lose hope and accept defeat. But that should not be the case,» she said.
The PDP president said the struggle in Jammu and Kashmir was a political fight which has been going on for decades.
«No decision is final, not even the Supreme Court's decision.
This is a political fight which has been going on for many decades. Our people have made sacrifices and we will not quit halfway,» she added.
Mufti said the Supreme Court declaring the Article 370 as a
