Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram has voiced his strong disapproval of the abrogation of Article 370, which occurred seven years ago, labelling the action a “Constitutional outrage.” He emphasised the importance of scrutinising the government’s commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, given the time elapsed since the region’s reorganisation.

On August 5, 2019, the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, subsequently dividing the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. This decision has been a polarising issue, and Chidambaram’s comments come on the anniversary of this landmark decision.

In a post made on the social media platform X, Chidambaram remarked, “Seven years ago this day, a Constitutional outrage was perpetrated,” referring to the division of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that a crucial legal question regarding the legality of such actions by the government remains unresolved by the judiciary.

Legal Implications and Remaining Questions

Chidambaram pointed out that the Supreme Court was approached regarding the constitutionality of reducing a state to Union Territories but did not provide a ruling. The court reportedly refrained from deciding this question based on assurances from the government that statehood would be restored soon.

His query, “How soon is ‘soon’?” encapsulates the growing frustration among various stakeholders regarding the government’s timeline for restoring status to Jammu and Kashmir. The central government has not clarified its position on when it plans to fulfil this promise, leaving many to speculate about the legitimacy of the original assurances.

Chidambaram’s statements raised concerns about the broader implications of this precedent. He indicated that the power wielded by the government to demote a state to Union Territory status could pose a threat to the federal structure of India, stating, “That sword–power of the Government to break up a State into UTs–still hangs over the States of India.”

Call for Restoration of Statehood from Local Leadership

In light of the anniversary of the revocation of Article 370, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, has also urged the central government to honour the commitments made to the residents of the region. Abdullah insisted that the government should keep its promises to both the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the nation at large.

He reiterated, “The government should fulfil its promise; they have promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country… they should fulfil the promise…” This call for action aligns with growing sentiments among local leaders and residents regarding the need for restored statehood.

As discussions regarding the future of Jammu and Kashmir continue, the questions surrounding its statehood and the interpretation of constitutional provisions remain at the forefront of political dialogue. The need for clarity and resolution from the central government appears increasingly urgent as the region marks another anniversary of significant change.

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