“This is not our defeat but conquest of Idea of India”, Mehbooba reacts after Centre upheld Abrogation of Article-370

Aman Zutshi

Reacting to the Union Govt’s support to the Abrogation of Article- 370 the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the extension of dilution of special status Article-370 by the central govt is not our defeat but a conquest of the Idea of India.

PDP party chairperson Mehbooba Mufti in a video shared on X by her account said:” My fellow countrymen and people of JK region don’t give up and lose hope as J&K has seen many ups and downs. Supreme court today’s decision is tough to digest but it is a stage and it is not our final destination and we shouldn’t mistake it our destiny”.

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She further said, “Our adversaries want us to accept defeat by losing hope and being sad but we must not be like this. The SC removed Atricle-370 saying it is temporary but it is not our defeat but conquest of Idea of India which reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s India, Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb (Civilisation). The Muslims of J&K rejected Pakistan and embraced Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Gandhi’s India & this is the defeat of this idea of India”.

“What present dispensation has done regarding J&K’s special status is absolutely unconstitutional, illegal in the parliament and considering it appropriate is like a death news not only for J&K but the idea of India”, Mehbooba added.

“We know that in 1947 a govt was formed then a parliament was made then a constitution was implemented they made promises with J&K and granted a significant position then after 77 years a govt came to power who from past 70 years have repeatedly said that they will tear down Article-370 once they form govt in India. They abrogated it but this is not our conquest but of J&K they have deceived people and not us”. she asserted.

“The Union by announcing Article-370 as temporary today has weaken the country and has empowered the stance of those powers in J&K who use to say that J-K is a temporary part of Indian union. By terming J&K’s special status as non-permanent the central govt has broken, hurt the hand which joined India with high hopes”, she said.

“My brothers, sisters and children don’t lose hope as this time will pass. I want to say that my country people today are celebrating seeing the tears, sufferings of J&K residents and seeing this region again converting into a prison because the shopkeepers were threatened to open shops at 10am, leaders were house arrest and workers were jailed and we should not feel threatened from all this”, Mehbooba further added.

“I want to apprise all the people in the country that what happened with us on August 5 will be repeated in every part of India. Our own constitution, ting flag of J&K like the National flag was snatched from us. These people will also snatch in no time the Tiranga from you under which we won and fought independence and we will not celebrate this else we will pray for you to fight against them”. she asserted.

“I again want to tell people of J&K, Ladakh to not lose hope as we will not leave this battle and I hope my people will not give place to despair, pessimism in their hearts”, she remarked.