Gupkar parties hopeful of favourable verdict

With the Supreme Court to pronounce its verdict on Monday on the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to abrogate controversial Article 370, several parties in Jammu and Kashmir expressed hope that the provision will be restored, while on the ground authorities have made “adequate” security arrangements. The BJP said that there should not be any politics on the Supreme Court ruling and everyone should respect it. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said his party will not disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir even in case of an adverse verdict from the Supreme Court on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and will continue its fight in accordance with the law. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the court’s verdict should be clear that the decision taken by the BJP-led central government was “illegal”. The NC and PDP are part of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), also called the Gupkar Alliance, which was formed by parties in J-K to fight for the restoration of Article 370. Another former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed hope that the Supreme Court will deliver a verdict in favour of the people.