New Delhi: A petition signed by 64 citizens of India from Jammu and Kashmir said they believe “abrogation of Article 370, made in stealth and using coercive means” is “unconstitutional and in violation of the historical promises” made to the people of the state.

The signatories of the petition include professionals from all spheres of life such as an eminent doctor, a Vice Air Marshal, theatre artists, academics, journalists, students and researchers. Most of the signatories are Kashmiri Pandits, Dogras and Sikhs belonging to the state.

In the letter, they say that the “clandestine manner” in which the Centre proceeded to revoke J&K’s special status and reorganise it into two Union Territories, “in complete exclusion of the opinion & consent” of the state’s legislative assembly amounts to an “authoritarian & undemocratic rejection of all norms of democracy”.

“We reiterate the fact that, we the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not consulted and no decision about our future, taken without our consent can be termed as legitimate. We condemn and reject this unilateral, undemocratic and unconstitutional imposition on us,” the signatories say.

Also Read: Why Revoking Special Status Is the Final Betrayal of Kashmir

Calling for an immediate lifting of the “state of siege on Jammu & Kashmir”, the petition says the communication gag on the people of the state to be revoked, while also calling for all political representatives to be freed from “arbitrary and illegal detention”.

The petition concludes by saying:

“We are pained at the division of our homeland and we pledge that we stand united in this time of trial and crisis. We will resist any attempt made to divide us on ethnic, cultural and communal lines.”

The petition has been reproduced in full below.

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We, the stateless state-subjects of the, now, erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, unequivocally condemn the abrogation of Article 370.

We take this opportunity to remind the citizens of India that Jammu & Kashmir chose to accede because of the secular & democratic character of the Indian dominion. The state of Jammu & Kashmir was the only princely state which negotiated the terms of its accession during the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly of India in 1949, consequent to which the Article 370 came into existence without any opposition.

Therefore we consider this move of abrogation of Article 370, made in stealth and using coercive means, to be unconstitutional and in violation of the historical promises made to the peoples’ of Jammu & Kashmir by the Union of India. The clandestine manner in which the Government of India proceeded in the matter, in complete exclusion of the opinion & consent of the Legislative Assembly of the J&K amounts to an authoritarian & undemocratic rejection of all norms of democracy.

We reiterate the fact that, we the people of Jammu & Kashmir were not consulted and no decision about our future, taken without our consent can be termed as legitimate.

We condemn and reject this unilateral, undemocratic and unconstitutional imposition on us.

We call for an immediate lifting of the state of siege on Jammu & Kashmir. We demand immediate revocation of communication gag on the people of J&K. We also call for all political representatives to be freed from arbitrary and illegal detention.

We are pained at the division of our homeland and we pledge that we stand united in this time of trial and crisis. We will resist any attempt made to divide us on ethnic, cultural and communal lines.

Signatures:

Rabinder Singh, Assistant Professor;

Air vice marshal (retd) Kapil Kak;

Upendra Kaul(U Kaul), Doctor, Cardiologist;

Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor, Kashmir Times;

M.K. Raina, Theatre and Film Artist

Badri Raina, Professor, Author and Columnist;

Nitasha Kaul, Professor and Author;

Mona Bhan, Associate Professor and Author;

Suvir Kaul, Professor and Author;

Pradeep Magazine, Senior Journalist;

Pushkar Nath Ganjoo, Retired Bureaucrat;

Nirdosh Uppal, Social Activist;

Sharda Ugra, Journalist;

Marvi Slathia Ph.D.Research scholar;

Shvaita Kaul, writer and political activist

Nishita Trisal, PhD Student;

Sagrika Kissu, Journalist;

I.D Khajuria, Peace Activist, IDP;

Prem Pal Singh, Lok Manch;

Cathleen Kaur, Consultant;

Raghuvir Singh Jamwal, Social Activist;

Narinder Khajuria, Social Activist;

Shubham Koul, Visual Artist;

Ayushi Koul, Fashion Designer;

Supriya Kissu, Student;

Sakshi Raina, Student;

Supriya Sharma, Student;

Dr Bhupinder Singh, Dental Doctor;

Amarjeet Singh, IT Professional;

Arushi, Student;

Sumeet Kour, Biotech Professional;

Narinder Pal Kour, Retired Government Employee;

Supinder Kour, Housewife;

Sachin Raina, Student;

Vivek Raina, Student;

Satvinder Singh, Student;

Simran Jeet Kour, Teacher;

Swaran Singh, Businessman;

Tejpal Singh, Businessman;

Avtar Singh, Businessman;

Jagroop Singh, Retired Employee;

Shubham Kaul, Artist;

Kuldeep Singh, Consultant;

Parvinder Kour, Engineer;

Satish Kumar, Consultant;

Raman Kumar, Journalist;

Kulwant Kour, Housewife;

Jasbir Singh, Businessman;

Agrita Chibber, Student;

Sandeep Kour, House wife;

Sanam Sutirath Wazir, Human Rights Activist;

Parvinder Singh, Engineer;

Simy Dhar, Engineer Entrepreneur;

Kiran Ganjoo, Retired Teacher;

Priyadarshini Arambam ,Clinical researcher;

Priyawarat Kumar , Secretary;

Prabhpreet Kour, Homemaker;

Jason Singh, Student;

Manpreet Kour, housewife;

Jayant Ugra, Photographer;

Avinash Azad, Journalist

Akshay Azad, Journalist

Ruchika Raina, Researcher

Aditya Gupta, Lawyer