Hyderabad: The Supreme Court’s validation of the Article 370 abrogation has elicited strong responses from opposition leaders, with Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressing disappointment and pledging to continue the fight. Owaisi emphasized the unique constitutional relationship Kashmir had with the Union, stating, “Being an integral part does not negate its distinct constitutional standing.”
Addressing concerns about demographic changes, Owaisi pointed to potential impacts on the Dogras of Jammu and Buddhists of Ladakh. Drawing on the Bommai judgment, he questioned the encroachment on federalism, asking, “How can Parliament substitute the Assembly’s role in the constitution?” Characterizing the Article 370 abrogation as a breach of constitutional morality, Owaisi criticized the state’s bifurcation and downgrade to a union territory, considering it a betrayal of promises to the people of Kashmir.
He cautioned against broader implications, stating, “Once legitimized, the Union government could make Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, or Mumbai Union Territories.”