The leader of the National Conference, Omar Abdullah, on Sunday clashed with Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who on Saturday said that no special status will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. The justice minister’s comment came after PPD leader Mehbooba Mufti said she would raise the national flag only once the state flag was on the back, pushing for the restoration of Article 370.
The BJP condemned his “seditious comment” and demanded action against the leader, who was released from detention earlier this month after 14 months.
The removal of statehood and the elimination of Section 370 was done following a proper constitutional process and both houses of Parliament approved it with “overwhelming numbers,” the law minister said.
Also read: Farooq Abdullah president, Mehbooba Mufti vice president of the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration
In response to the justice minister, Omar Abdullah took to Twitter on Sunday morning and said that he is not expected to restore the state of the old state. “Dear Ravi Shankar Prasadji, we do not expect you to restore anything, but unless you suggest that the Supreme Court has renounced its independence and takes a dictate from you, do not presume that you know what the honorable judges will decide,” Abdullah tweeted.
Seven parties from Jammu and Kashmir – National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India – Marxist, Peoples’ Conference, J&K Peoples’ Movement and Awmai National Conference – have come together to form the Peoples’ Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The head of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, has been appointed president of the new group and the head of the PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, is the vice president. The flag of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir will be the flag of the alliance, it has been decided.
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