Mohammed Akbar Lone, the primary petitioner in the case, has been accused of being “openly pro-Pakistan and India hating” amid the drawn-out discussion on the repeal of Article 370 in the Supreme Court, which is being heard by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
A Constitution panel was tasked with reviewing many petitions in 2019 that contested the repeal of Article 370’s provisions and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which divided the former state into J&K and Ladakh.
A petition challenging Lone’s appeal has been submitted to the SC by Roots in Kashmir, a non-profit founded by Kashmiri Pandits. In his plea dated September 1, managing trustee of the company Amit Raina said that Lone, who is now the MP for Baramulla, is a “known supporter of secessionist forces operating in J&K who support Pakistan.” He said that Lone had previously yelled pro-Pakistani chants on the J&K assembly floor, and that this information had been extensively publicized in the media.
Lone, a National Conference leader and the MP for Baramulla, served as an MLA for 16 years, from 2002 to 2018. He has reportedly been heard chanting phrases like “Pakistan Zindabad” often. He is accused of spreading “pro-Pakistan sentiment” and never identifying as Indian.
In his plea, Raina claimed that Lone screamed anti-Pakistan chants within the J&K legislature when he was an MLA, including “Pakistan Zindabad.” He acknowledged yelling these chants, but he also refused to apologize. According to the application, this clearly identifies Lone’s position and the political party to which he belongs.
This time, by opposing the repeal of Article 370, individuals like him are once again drawing a line for Pakistan, according to Raina. They are acting in a way that is hostile to India’s sovereignty and integrity and with blatant disregard for the Constitution, to which Lone has pledged loyalty.
Raina further claimed that Lone and other petitioners like him were being supported by renowned lawyer Kapil Sibal, who is fighting against the repeal of Article 370. Sibal, who previously served as the UPA’s minister of law and justice, is obstructing J&K from receiving a full application of the Constitution, the speaker said.