Hyderabad, Dec 11: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi voiced his apprehensions on Monday, asserting that the Dogras of Jammu and Buddhists of Ladakh will be the most affected by the Union’s decision to abrogate Article 370, leading to potential demographic changes. Responding to the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the Centre’s decision, Owaisi questioned the absence of a timeline for the reinstatement of statehood and called for early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that being an integral part of India did not negate the region’s distinct constitutional relationship with the Union, which was made permanent after the dissolution of the constituent assembly of Kashmir. Owaisi raised concerns about the potential of other major cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, or Mumbai being turned into Union Territories once the decision on Article 370 is legitimized. He highlighted the example of Ladakh, governed by a Lt. Governor without democratic representation, and criticized the lack of public deliberation and an elected legislative assembly during the abrogation of Article 370. Owaisi cited the Bommai judgment, stating that federalism is part of the constitution’s basic structure, questioning the violation of constitutional morality in the abrogation process. He concluded by describing the move as a grand betrayal of the promises made to the people of Kashmir by the Union of India. The Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s decision and directed the restoration of statehood and assembly elections by September 30 next year.
