Srinagar, Jan 29: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President and former Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir Friday asserted that restoration of Article 370 was the ‘collective’ demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mir claimed that  Supreme Court of India has also upheld the constitutional ‘legitimacy’ of Articles 370 and 35A which he said was ‘annulled’ through a ‘unilateral’ decision by BJP government on 5th of August 2019.

“Restoration of Article 370 is a collective demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. So far as statehood is concerned, every individual wants statehood to be restored at earliest,” PCC president told the media on the sidelines of an event organized by Youth Congress at the party head office here.

He also appealed to people to repose their faith on the Supreme Court of India and wait for its verdict which he hoped will be in the favor of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mir said people in some parts of the erstwhile state were unaware of the implications of abrogation of Article 370, however their perception changed the moment it was repealed.

Mir said since various political parties of Jammu and Kashmir have challenged centers decision in the apex court, there is no need to jump to conclusion unless the top judiciary announces its verdict.

“We should repose our faith on apex court which has in past upheld constitutional legitimacy of Article 370. Various political parties also challenged centers decision in the Supreme Court given its stand on the issue, hence we should wait as the case has been listed for hearing in March,” added PCC chief.

He also claimed that it was the Supreme Court which said that Article 370 is the strongest bridge connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.

Mir also criticized the center for bringing farmers on roads as new agricultural laws have adversely affected millions of small farmers across India.

He asked the center to repeal anti-farmer laws or else Congress will launch country wide protest against new agri-laws—(KNO)