Article 370 Case Petitioner Files Affidavit In Supreme Court Affirming Oath To Uphold Indian Constitution & Protect Territorial Integrity

National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Mohammad Akbar Lone, who is the lead petitioner in the batch of petitions challenging the repeal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, on the direction of the Supreme Court, has filed an affidavit stating that he would preserve and uphold the provisions of the Constitution of India and protect the territorial integrity of the nation. 

Yesterday, the Supreme Court had asked him to file such an affidavit after a Kashmiri Pandits' organisation named "Roots in Kashmir" stated that Lone had raised slogans supporting Pakistan in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Expressing serious concerns at Lone's statements, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta had demanded that the Court should ask him to state on affidavit if he accepted India's total sovereignty and denounced terrorist and separatist acts in J&K.  Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Lone's lawyer, said that he deprecated his client's remarks if he has made them.

In Lone's one page affidavit, he has stated that he is 'a responsible and dutiful citizen of the Union of India' and has exercised his rights to approach the Supreme Court through Article 32 of the Indian Constitution. The affidavit adds–

"I reiterate the oath taken while being sworn in as a Member of Parliament to preserve and uphold the provisions of the Constitution of India and to protect the territorial integrity of the nation."

However, the Solicitor General expressed his dissatisfaction with the affidavit and urged that Lone should also add that – "I do not support terrorism, I do not support any separatist activity and no citizen in this country can logically say that."

As the proceedings concerning the Article 370 abrogation were concluding today, referring to the affidavit filed by Lone, the SG said–

"This is adding insult to injury to the nation". Urging the Court to make some observations regarding his conduct, the SG said, "Your lordships may read what is not written"

The CJI stated that the bench will analyse the affidavit. 

The Constitution Bench reserved judgment in the case today.