Verdict on Article 370: National Conference (NC) vice president, Omar Abdullah, expressed concern on Saturday that mainstream politicians in Kashmir might face house arrest ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on Article 370 petitions. He claimed that the government merely needs an "excuse" for such actions.
Abdullah said that he can only hope and pray that the Supreme Court's decision on Article 370 petitions is in favour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Here are Omar Abdullah's views ahead of Monday's verdict
When asked about his views ahead of Monday's verdict, Abdullah told reporters in Kulgam district, "They need an excuse to put us under house arrest and they have an excuse. As we are unaware of what the decision would be, so are they. If they know, then there should be an investigation."
"Who will say with authority what is to happen? I do not have any such machinery or way by which I can come to know today what those five honourable judges have in their hearts, or what they have written in the judgement.
"I can only hope and pray that the decision is in our favour, but, I cannot neither claim that success will be ours, nor, anyone else can. We are waiting for the judgement, let it come, we will talk then," he said.
Supreme Court to deliver verdict on abrogation of Article 370
The Supreme Court will deliver a verdict on pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 on December 11. A constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant is set to announce its verdict on a series of petitions that challenge the Central government's 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 which conferred special status on the former State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Supreme Court on September 5 had reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud reserved the verdict after a marathon 16-day hearing.
Several petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 that divided the erstwhile state into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh - were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019.
On August 5, 2019, the Central government announced the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 and split the region into two Union territories.
The Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, soon after the second term of the PM Modi-led government began. Included in the Constitution on October 17, 1949, Article 370 exempts J&K from the Indian Constitution (except Article 1 and Article 370 itself) and permits the state to draft its own Constitution.
(With PTI inputs)
Also Read: Supreme Court to deliver verdict on abrogation of Article 370 on December 11
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