Central Supreme Court Verdict Validates Government’s Decision on Jammu and Kashmir

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Monday in the Rajya Sabha that the Supreme Court verdict confirmed the government’s stance, and that both the government and the BJP would accept full responsibility for the decision. He attributed separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir to Article 370, which he claimed did not affect other states bordering Pakistan. Shah also noted the replacement of stones with laptops in the hands of young people in the region.

Speaking on the two Bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, Shah emphasized that Article 370 prevented the application of measures benefiting OBCs, SCs, STs, and other groups in the region. He criticized Nehru for accepting the UN-brokered ceasefire without reclaiming the entire princely state from Pakistani invaders in 1948.

Shah condemned the Opposition for questioning the abrogation of Article 370 and deemed it an insult to the Constitution and the Constituent Assembly. He also accused the Opposition of misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s instructions regarding elections and the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s validation of the government’s processes for abrogating Article 370, Shah highlighted the provision for the President to amend or remove Article 370. He questioned Nehru’s decision to label Article 370 as temporary and pointed out Nehru’s acknowledgment of his own mistakes regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah also addressed the arrival of families from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and the reduction in terrorist incidents and casualties in the region. He emphasized the government’s commitment to integrating militants into mainstream society and implementing various provisions for the benefit of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the discussion on the Bills, the absence of Opposition members led to the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation and Reorganisation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Supreme Court’s decision was celebrated as a victory by both the ruling party and the Opposition members.

In summary, Amit Shah’s statements in the Rajya Sabha affirmed the government’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370, while also addressing the implications of the Supreme Court’s verdict and the ongoing developments in the region.