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With SC likely to pass verdict on J&K special status soon, Mehbooba Mufti drives to arch-rival Farooq for ‘guidance’

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Mehbooba Mufti

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Supreme Court set to declare whether or not Article 35A that grants a special status to J&K among all Indian states should be quashed, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti stunned everyone by calling on National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah triggering rumours once again that all’s not well in her PDP-BJP coalition

In a move that has surprised political observers and common folk alike, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday evening, drove to the residence of her principal political rival in the state – National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah – instead of meeting senior leaders in her alliance partner, the BJP, to discuss the crisis over the legality of Article 35A that grants a special status to her strife-torn state.

Article 35A is a provision in the Indian Constitution which saved the ‘pre-existing State Subject Law’ of permanent residents of the state and their special rights and privileges. It was added through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, issued under Article 370 in 1954. According to the law, there is a complete ban on the acquisition of immovable property by the non-permanent residents of the state, like in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and some other states. The law defines permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, confers on them the special rights and privileges and also imposes restrictions on non-residents acquiring any property in the state.

The prevailing crisis over the legality of Article 35A – the abrogation of which Mehbooba has repeatedly warned against claiming that if such a decision is taken “there will be no one left in Kashmir to hold the Indian flag” – began when two Kashmiri women approached the Supreme Court in 2014 seeking quashing of the special provision as it had “disenfranchised their children”. The apex court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the case next month.

Farooq Abdullah

What seems to have triggered Mehbooba to make the hitherto unthinkable journey to Farooq Abdullah for his counsel is the Union government’s recent submission in the Supreme Court during a hearing in the case.

On July 17, Attorney General KK Venugopal had told a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud that the petition against Article 35A raised “very sensitive” questions that required a “larger debate”, following which the court referred the matter to a three-judge Bench and set six weeks for final disposal.

Venugopal’s submission of the necessity of a ‘larger debate’ on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 was a departure from the stand that earlier governments – usually non-BJP – have taken on the sensitive subject as this was the first time that the Union was willing to put the matter up for a discussion instead of outrightly siding with the J&K government.

The Centre’s submission had immediately drawn criticism from political leaders of the National Conference and the Congress while Mehbooba had, in a belated reply, warned that any move to dilute Article 370 or quash it altogether would be the proverbial “last nail” in the Kashmir crisis and ensure that no Kashmiri ever holds the Indian tricolour.

That Venugopal naturally was communicating to the court the stand of the BJP government – a party with which Mehbooba is running an always-on-the-edge coalition in J&K – is the reason being ascribed to the PDP chief’s gesture towards her NC rival.

Abdullah has suggested to the chief minister that she should consult other parties with an aim to create a wider consensus among “like-minded parties in the battle to prevent Article 35A from being struck down in the Supreme Court.”

After her meeting with the NC president, Mehbooba said: “Dr Abdullah sahib is the senior most leader of our state and I went to him to seek his guidance and support on the issue of special status of our state which is under serious threat”.

“It (the case over Article 35A in SC) is a challenge for all political parties in J&K, who swear by J&K Constitution and the Constitution of India. There is hardly anything left in our special status and if Article 35(A) is tampered with, we will cease to exist,” Mehbooba added.

The NC president’s son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah – who on several earlier occasions has hit out at Mehbooba Mufti – said: “We cannot afford to have Article 35A remove… we believe that there is an urgent need to create a wider consensus among parties to fight this battle together,” after the PDP chief met Farooq Abdullah.

The Congress too came out in support of Mehbooba’s initiative with former union minister and senior poarty leader Saifuddin Soz asserting the same line as Mehbooba and Omar – of drawing a consensus on the legality of Article 35A and not repealing it.

With the threat of abrogation of Article 35A uniting the PDP, NC and Congress, political observers from the state wonder: Will the three parties along with other regional players who are anti-BJP come together to save the special status and state subject law. If developments in the Valley are any indicator, it is quite likely to happen as the anger against the mainstream political players is spreading like wildfire, especially in the past year that has seen prolonged widespread violence return to the region and an aggressive Indian Army willing to go to any extent to deal with civilians protesting on the streets.

Sources said Mehbooba had told her top party leaders that they should be ready for any eventuality if the article is struck down in the Supreme Court. That could well mean the end of the BJP-PDP alliance in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Justice Yashwant Varma case: Supreme Court orders in-house probe after transfer to Allahabad HC

The Supreme Court has ordered an in-house probe into Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma after unaccounted cash was found at his residence.

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Supreme Court of India building with cloudy sky background

The Supreme Court has initiated an in-house inquiry following serious allegations against Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Reports said Justice Varma’s transfer was just the beginning of the process.

The matter came to light during Holi, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi, leading firefighters to discover a large amount of unaccounted cash.

Justice Varma has been transferred to his parent High Court in Allahabad, as per a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court Collegium. However, reports said Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna has sought a detailed report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice Justice DK Upadhyaya and has briefed fellow judges on the situation.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Justice Varma could be asked to resign or face removal through parliamentary procedure under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. Currently, the judge is on leave and has not issued any comment.

The incident that sparked, no pun intended, the probe occurred when a fire at the judge’s home required emergency response. Upon entering the premises, firefighters discovered the cash in a room and informed police. The matter was then escalated to the judiciary, prompting a swift response from the Supreme Court Collegium.

Sources revealed that the Chief Justice of India took the discovery very seriously, leading to the Collegium’s unanimous decision to transfer the judge. Reports indicate that discussions around the judge’s resignation had already begun.

The issue has ignited a broader debate over the integrity of the judiciary and the workings of the Supreme Court Collegium. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising have urged greater transparency in handling such incidents. Sibal emphasized that concerns over judicial corruption have long existed, while Jaising argued for a full and frank disclosure of facts, including the amount of cash recovered.

The matter was brought up in Parliament by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who questioned the delay in the matter becoming public. Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the delay in disclosure and emphasized the need for a “systemic response” that is transparent and accountable.

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Amaal Mallik urges media to respect privacy after deleting emotional post on family estrangement

Amaal Mallik deleted a personal post detailing his struggles with depression and strained family ties. In a fresh statement, he urged the media not to sensationalise his vulnerability or harass his family.

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Amaal Mallik addresses mental health and family estrangement

Singer-composer Amaal Mallik, known for his work in Bollywood music, has taken down a deeply personal social media post in which he opened up about his clinical depression and a difficult relationship with his family. In a fresh statement issued on Instagram, he addressed the media and public reaction to his earlier post and urged for sensitivity during what he described as a “very tough time.”

In his new message, Amaal Mallik wrote,
“Thank you for the love and support, it truly means a lot, but I would request the media portals not to harass my family.. Please don’t sensationalise and give negative headlines to my vulnerability…It’s a request. It’s taken a lot for me to open up & it is a very tough time for me…I will always love my family, but for now, from afar. Nothing changes between us brothers, Armaan and I are one, and nothing can come between us. Love & Peace.”

The clarification followed the deletion of an earlier post in which Mallik shared that he had been clinically diagnosed with depression. He also revealed that despite composing 126 songs in his decade-long career, he felt undervalued, particularly by his family.

In the now-deleted post, Mallik spoke about strained ties with his brother Armaan, which he attributed to actions by their parents. He indicated that he would be maintaining only professional relations with his family going forward, stating that their behaviour had impacted his mental health and self-esteem.

An excerpt from his deleted post read:
“The journey has been terrific for both of us but the actions of my parents have been the reason we as brothers have gone too far from one another and all of this has made me step in for myself as it has left a very deep scar across my heart. Through the last many years, they have left no opportunity to disturb my well-being and belittle all my friendships, my relationships, my mindset, my self-confidence.”

He further admitted that while he holds himself accountable for his own actions, he felt repeatedly diminished by those closest to him, contributing significantly to his deteriorating mental health.

As the industry and fans react to Amaal’s honesty, the singer has requested that his vulnerability be met with compassion, not sensationalism. His heartfelt appeal seeks to redirect focus toward healing rather than headlines.

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Entertainment

Dhanashree Verma’s new song Dekha Ji Dekha Maine explores betrayal, abuse amid divorce from Yuzvendra Chahal

Choreographer Dhanashree Verma dropped a new song Dekha Ji Dekha Maine that portrays themes of betrayal and domestic violence, coinciding with her divorce from cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal.

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Choreographer and influencer Dhanashree Verma released a powerful new music video titled Dekha Ji Dekha Maine on the same day her divorce from Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal was legally granted by a family court in Mumbai. The emotionally charged track, launched under the T-Series banner, highlights themes of betrayal, domestic abuse, and emotional trauma within a royal marital setup.

The video stars Dhanashree alongside actor Ishwak Singh, known for his role in Pataal Lok. Set against a traditional Rajasthani backdrop, the visuals depict Verma as a woman enduring infidelity and physical violence from her husband. One scene shows her character being slapped in public, while another captures the husband engaging intimately with another woman in her presence.

The lyrics, penned by Jaani, cut deep. Lines such as “Dekha ji dekha maine, apno ka rona dekha. Gairon ke bistar pe, apno ka sona dekha” and “Dil tera bacha hai, nibhana bhool jata hai. Naya khilauna dekh ke, purana bhool jata hai” reflect the anguish of betrayal and emotional neglect in a relationship.

Sung by Jyoti Nooran, with music composed by Jaani, the song presents a striking narrative layered with raw emotion. Speaking about her role, Dhanashree said, “This was one of the most emotionally charged performances I’ve been a part of… It demanded a certain level of intensity, and I hope it resonates deeply with the audience.”

The release coincided with her official separation from Yuzvendra Chahal, whom she married in December 2020. As per reports, Chahal has agreed to pay an alimony of ₹4.75 crore as part of the divorce settlement.

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