Now Reading: Radha Kumar says Article 370 abrogation first blow to federalism
-
01
Radha Kumar says Article 370 abrogation first blow to federalism
Former Jammu and Kashmir interlocutor Radha Kumar on Friday presented a human rights report to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami. Kumar, co-chair of…
The Story in Brief
Former Jammu and Kashmir interlocutor Radha Kumar on Friday presented a human rights report to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami. Kumar, co-chair of the Forum for Human Rights in J&K, said the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 remains a "very sore point" and dealt the "first big blow" against federal principles. She called the move "clearly unconstitutional" and said more than 5,000 political leaders were detained at the time. The Forum had been denied police permission to release the report at a Srinagar convention centre.
Kumar also discussed the need for multiple peace tracks involving the Government of India, Pakistan and dissidents, echoing earlier approaches under the Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh administrations. The report's findings on ongoing human rights violations were handed over to the leaders for possible action.
The Indian Opinion
Radha Kumar's claim that the Article 370 abrogation was "clearly unconstitutional" ignores the Supreme Court's 2023 judgment upholding the decision as valid. Equally, her figure of 5,000 political detainees is unverified. Both sides in this debate have hardened positions: one calls the move an assault on federalism, the other a necessary correction. The real test will come when Jammu and Kashmir holds its first assembly election since the abrogation, voters, not pundits, will show how deep the resentment runs.
Sources (2): greaterkashmir.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
