From darkest day to historical blunder corrected, who said what on revocation of Article 370

From the tearing down of Constitution to calling it 'betrayal of the trust', the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, invited extreme reactions from across the political parties.

Here are the major reactions.

Tearing the Constitution

Protesting against the removal of Article 370 that confers special status to Jammu and Kashmir, two lawmakers from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tried to tear the constitution in the Parliament.

Fayaz Ahmad Mir (PDP) and Nazir Ahmed Laway, the MPs from Kashmir, attempted to tear the constitution in the Rajya Sabha, following which Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had to call in marshals to remove the two leaders from the House.

Mehbooba Mufti
"Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.

"It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises," she tweeted.

Omar Abdullah
Scrapping of Article 370 is betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had reposed in India when the State acceded to it in 1947, said Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah, while commenting on the Centre's decision, said that the abrogation of Article 370 will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences.

Ramachandra Guha
This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism, the handiwork of paranoid, insecure rulers who daren't even have a proper debate inside or outside Parliament.

He tweeted President Kovind does a Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.


Arun Jaitley
BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the govt's move on Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is a monumental decision towards national integration.

Asserting that separate status led to separatism, he said in a blog that no dynamic nation could allow this situation to continue.

Complimenting PM Modi and Amit Shah, he said, "A historical wrong has been undone today. Article 35A came through the back door without following the procedure under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. It had to go."

Sushma Swaraj
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj welcomed the Centre's decision of scrapping Article 370 and termed it a bold and historic decision.

"A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India - One India," Swaraj tweeted shortly after the BJP-led government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and barred people from rest of India from buying land in the state.

Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal said his party supports the Centre's decisions on Jammu and Kashmir.

"We hope this will bring peace and development in the state," the chief minister tweeted.