NEW DELHI: Describing the revoking of Article 370 as a "black day" in the country's constitutional history, the Congress on Monday alleged that the government "dismembered" Jammu and Kashmir by "mischievously misinterpreting" articles in the Constitution, and cautioned that the idea of India as a union of states is in "grave danger".
Senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram alleged that the Modi dispensation's move amounted to "constitutional monstrosity" and the decision marks the "beginning of the disintegration of India if the government continues on this path".
Ghulam Nabi Azad, in his remarks, accused the BJP of taking the decision "for votes". and also alleged that the saffron party is "playing" with unity and integrity of the state.
The Congress lost a key voice, Bhubaneswar Kalita, who, as Chief Whip, was supposed to keep the flock in line. Kalita, a senior Congress leader from Assam, resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the party saying he disagreed with its stand on Article 370.
"Today is Black Monday," said TMC's Derek O'Brien. "The Constitution has either been forgotten or thrown into the dustbin. Tomorrow Bengal can become four states, or Odisha can become, what's your lucky number, seven states. Or worse - you could become a Union Territory. What we saw was a mockery of Parliament," he added.
The Left parties on Monday lashed out at the government for revoking Article 370, saying that it was the "murder of democracy" and would serve only to further "alienate" the people of the region.
"What the government has done is regressive and will further alienate the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the murder of democracy," CPI general secretary D Raja said.
The CPI(M) termed the move an "attack" on the Constitution and said the Left parties will hold a protest against the move.