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Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) As the Supreme Court heard a plea seeking immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir along with implementation of the directions passed by the Constitution bench in December 2023, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam on Friday urged caution, saying the court should consider public sentiment and the sensitivity of the region, especially since it is a border area.
Speaking to IANS, Nirupam said, “After the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly, and terrorism has been controlled. This is a big achievement. However, it is also true that when Article 370 was abrogated, the state was divided into two parts – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. These are now Union Territories with their own specific demands. The Supreme Court should respect the public sentiment in the area and take decisions keeping in mind the sensitivities involved. These are sensitive border areas and any hasty decision could have serious implications. One must ask if Jammu and Kashmir is now ready to regain statehood, then why is the process still pending?”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has given four weeks to the Central government to respond to several petitions seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Nirupam also commented on the issue of seat sharing in the NDA when the nomination process for the first phase of Bihar assembly elections began on Friday.
“The issue of seat-sharing within the NDA has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion in the media. Disputes over seat-sharing are normal in a three-party alliance. While BJP and JD-U are the major partners, smaller parties like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi are demanding more seats. Several rounds of discussions are going on, and I am confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, they will arrive at a balanced decision. Will reach. Bihar stands firmly with the NDA and no party will be able to disrupt this positive atmosphere.”
Responding to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nirupam said it was wrong for Owaisi to use derogatory language.
“Israel is a friendly country. Netanyahu is currently engaged in rescuing Israeli civilians after the Hamas attack. This is a fight against Hamas, not against Palestinians. If Palestinians want peace, they have to free themselves from Hamas. The US President is leading the peace efforts and PM Modi has supported him. Owaisi has no right to object.”
–IANS
JK/VD