Mohammad Akbar Lone has filed an affidavit swearing allegiance to the Indian Constitution following an order of the Supreme Court.The National Conference Leader is the lead petitioner challenging the scrapping of Article 370. The ask for an affidavit followed after the Centre’s top law officer alleged that Lone had raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2018.
On September 4, a five-judge constitutional bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said, "We want to have it from Akbar Lone that he unconditionally accepts that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that he abides by and owes allegiance to the Constitution of India”.Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, had stated that Lone must admit that he opposes secessionist activities and terrorism by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. Attorney General R Venkataramani said, "He (Mr Lone) wants his fundamental rights to be enforced and then takes a contrary viewpoint."
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However, veteran lawyer Kapil Sibal who represented the petitioner, assured the court that Lone would file the affidavit by Tuesday, and said that he would stop representing Lone if he did not. "He is an MP of Lok Sabha. He is a citizen of India and sworn to his office by the Constitution. He accepts the sovereignty of India," Sibal said.
