SRINAGAR, AUGUST 29 (PTK): Kashmir traders’ bodies and mainstream parties on Wednesday held a protest the attempts to scrap Article 35-A in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmir Inc held a massive protest demonstration here in city centre against the tinkering with Article 35A, which provides special status to state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Scores of members of KTMF, KEA, FCIK, KAA, Traders Union Regal lane and the members of Sikh and Christian communities gathered at Lal Chowk here and staged a protest against the assault on Article-35A, reports said.
One of the member of KTMF told Press Trust of Kashmir that “tampering with Article 35A is an attempt to change the demography of J&K. People of Kashmir will not take this attack lying low will be stiffly resisted.
Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans the protesters led by KTMF president Mohammad Yasin Khan demanded the dismissal of petitions challenging Article-35A.
“We want to make New Delhi aware that their tactics won’t be able to break the will of Kashmiris. Kashmir is a political dispute and it can be solved through political means only. Kashmiris won’t allow erasing their identity,” Khan said.
Protesters said that if the state subject law is harmed by any means, a “state-wide agitation” would arise in Jammu and Kashmir and every single resident will be ready to “spill blood”.
“We are ready to safeguard the state subject law by our blood. All the citizens have united irrespective of their religion or region,” they said.
They further added that this was the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that all religious, non-religious, civil and political organisations had united to defend the state subject law. He said this was a “do or die” situation for every citizen of J&K.
The Kashmir Inc appealed all religious and non- religious organizations to unite together to protect state subject law.
Meanwhile the employees joint consultative committee (EJCC) also staged a protest demonstration here in summer capital against the tinkering with Article 35A, which provides special status to state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Scores of employees from different government departments led by President EJCC, Aijaz Ahmad Khan assembled here in Partap Park Srinagar and staged a protest against what they called repeated assaults on the Article-35A, eyewitnesses told Press Trust of Kashmir.
“We hope there is a larger unity among people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh over this issue. India should desist from playing with fire by abrogating this article,” Aijaz said.
“From a historical perspective and with regard to Kashmir, since it was an agreement between two sovereign countries, India unilaterally could not have taken this issue to its Supreme Court. It should have gone to international court of justice.”
EJCC protesters while taking to Press Trust of Kashmir said that “first they implemented GST then Statistics Bill and now attempts are being made to scrap Article 35A,”.
They added that “they want to create a Palestine like situation where people become homeless in their own home. This is a well-thought conspiracy against Kashmir”.
Carrying placards and banners that read “Safeguard Article 35-A” and “Save state subject law”, the protesters pledged to safeguard the special law with their lives.
Later, the protesters took out a march from Pratap Park to the historic Ganta Ghar before dispersing peacefully.
Meanwhile Police foiled a proposed sit in of Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) outside Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Holding placards and shouting slogans, the businessmen and traders led by Farooq Ahmad Dar assembled at Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) at Lal Chowk Srinagar, said a KEA spokesman.
He said as soon as the protesters marched to the high court police foiled their protest and stopped them near Jehangir Chowk and “didn’t allow them to proceed to High Court.”
Talking to reporters, KEA co-chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar said that “abrogation of special status (Article 35A) is direct attack on autonomy of the Jammu and Kashmir”.
“We won’t allow the government to abrogate Article 35-A in the state at any cost as the Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and has its own constitution and powers,” he said.
However A protest led by PDP spokesperson Thakur Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia carried out in Kathua against attempts of tinkering with Article 35 A.
Thakur Abhijeet Singh said he selected Kathua intentionally for this protest because Kathua is Gateway of Jammu & Kashmir which connects J&K to rest of India and correlated Kathua with Article 35 A because Kathua plays the same role for the state as Article 35A does, which serves as a bridge in between India & Jammu & Kashmir.
He further praised his party president Mehbooba Mufti for her serious efforts in this matter where she fought for past two years just to safeguard this article & applauded her about her stand in this matter which remained same whether party was in power or out of power. (PTK)
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