Valley bracing for two-day strike against tinkering with Article 35A
The case will come up for hearing in Supreme Court on Monday
: The valley is bracing for street protests and a two-day strike against the tinkering of Article 35A, which comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday. The Joint Resistance Leadership, led by Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, and Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, have given a call for a two-day shutdown across J&K on Sunday and Monday.
Traders’ groups, the civil society and other social organisations have supported the call and even threatened to launch a mass agitation if Article 35A will be removed by the court.
In Kashmir, posters and video clips have been making rounds on the social media issued by separatists and social organisations explaining Article 35A’s importance and dangers if the article is removed.
For the past three days, protests have been organised by various groups in different parts of the Valley as the people fear that efforts are being made to remove the article. Soon after the culmination of Friday prayers, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik led a protest demonstration on the Residency Road here. The protesters, who were carrying placards, raised pro-freedom slogans and warned of serious consequences if Article 35A is removed.
‘No court whether in India or in Pakistan has any jurisdiction to take decisions that can in any way affect the disputed status of J&K as its original citizens are yet to exercise the right to determine their final dispensation as promised by UN and backed by India and Pakistan,’’ Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said soon after chairing a high-level meeting to discuss threats to the article.
“Any attempt to change demographic character of J&K and its disputed nature is intolerable. Our cadres along with people are ready for all out mass agitation if any tinkering with the article is allowed,’’ he said.