SRINAGAR, Aug 2: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti asserted that the Supreme Court is now the sole institution in India that can safeguard the nation’s adherence to its Constitution. Her remarks came as the Supreme Court commenced hearings on petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media at the PDP office in Srinagar, Mufti highlighted the global significance of the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings concerning Article 370. She emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir, despite being a Muslim majority state, chose to reject the two-nation theory and aligned with India, receiving constitutional assurances in return. These guarantees, she stated, were not provided by China, Pakistan, or any neighboring country.
Mufti expressed her belief that the Supreme Court must confront the subversion of institutions within the country and take a bold stand to uphold the majesty of the Constitution. According to her, the apex court is the last hope for preserving the sanctity of the Constitution and the nation.
She referred to the historic June 12, 1975 verdict of Justice Jagmohanlal Singh of the Allahabad High Court, which convicted the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, of electoral malpractices, as an example of the judiciary’s willingness to take risks for constitutional integrity.
Regarding the Article 370 petitions, Mehbooba Mufti asserted that the Supreme Court has a pivotal role to play in making a choice between upholding the Constitution and endorsing the agenda of the BJP.
Drawing a clear line, she stated that one must either stand with the Constitution of India and the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir or be against the nation. She reiterated that the matter concerns the entire country, not just the opposition alliance.
Mufti accused the BJP of attempting to replicate the Manipur situation across the entire nation and called on the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution’s principles against any communal agenda.
