Senior advocate Harish Salve expressing support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s decision to revoke the special status to Jammu and Kashmir said that Article 370 was a “mistake” which the Centre had amended by withdrawing it.
“I think it was a mistake to allow it and a bigger mistake to allow it to fester. Sometimes you have to cut the Gordian Knot and the government has done it. The only way it could have been done is by one shot,” said Salve while describing himself as a “long-time votary” of getting rid of Article 370.
“The suggestion that it should have been a discussion is nonsense because even the slightest mention of 370 would evoke very trenchant and militant criticism. India has done the right thing.”
He further described Pakistan’s move to internationalise the Kashmir issue as a sign of “complete bankruptcy” because Kashmir is an integral part of India where they were “squatting”.
Therefore, it is PoK, which is a disputed territory, and not Kashmir, he added.
Tensions have been simmering between India and Pakistan ever since the Centre on August 5 revoked Article 370 of its Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian ambassador.
India is leaving no stone unturned to thwart attempts by Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir issue at all the international forums be it at the UN or any other forum.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.