Srinagar, Sep 04 (KNO): The Supreme Court on Monday asked National Conference Lok Sabha member Muhammad Akbar Lone, one of the petitioners in Article 370 case, to swear his allegiance to the Constitution of India in writing.
On the 15th day of hearing in the Article 370 case, the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud today asked Lok Sabha member Muhammad Akbar Lone to file an affidavit that he owes allegiance to the Constitution of India and that J&K is an integral part of India.
Lone, a member parliament from Baramulla segment, had challenged abrogation of Article and reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019. The case is currently being heard by a five-judge constitution bench. He is represented by senior Supreme Court lawyer, Kapil Sibal in the case.
At the outset of hearing, Bimal Jad, representing Roots in Kashmir, drew attention of the Apex Court towards an affidavit filed by him, saying that Lone has raised “Pakistan Zindabad” slogan at many forums and Legislative Assembly
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Government of India in the Article 370 case, said that Lone should file an affidavit that he owes allegiance to the Constitution of India and opposes terrorism and secessionism.
“He should file an affidavit that I owe allegiance to the Constitution of India because “I am before the highest court of the country”. And he must say that I strongly oppose terrorism and secessionism in Jammu & Kashmir,” Mehta, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), submitted before the five-judge constitution bench.
He submitted that efforts of the nation to bring in normalcy which is substantially successful might be affected.
In 2018, Lone, then a sitting MLA, shouted pro-Pakistan slogans in the Legislative Assembly after BJP MLAs shouted anti-Pakistan slogans—(KNO)