SRINAGAR:Ghulam Nabi Azad, the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), called the Supreme Court’s decision on the appeals contesting the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution “sad and unfortunate” on Monday, but he added that “we have to accept it”. “The court’s decision is regrettable and depressing,” Azad said to local reporters. The verdict rendered by a five-judge panel of the highest court has left the people of the region unhappy, according to the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. “But we have to accept it (the verdict),” he stated. On Monday, the Supreme Court affirmed the Centre’s decision to repeal Article 370, which gave the former state of Jammu and Kashmir special status, and directed that measures be taken to hold Assembly elections by September 30 of the following year. The supreme court further ordered that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood be reinstated as soon as possible.
