Art 35A: J&K separatists call for shutdown on August 5, 6
On Aug 6, the SC will hear petition against Article 35A, which empowers state’s legislature to define ‘permanent residents’ of the state
There is an increasing unease in the Valley as the date nears for a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of Article 35A of the constitution, a law that guarantees special privileges to the restive state.
Top separatist leaders of Kashmir on Sunday called for strikes on August 5 and 6 in Jammu and Kashmir and warned of launching a “mass agitation of hitting and occupying streets” if any tinkering with Article 35A is allowed to take place under the legal garb.
The separatists’ warning came on the same day when National Conference leader and member of parliament Farooq Abdullah vowed to “fight against ploys to assault” Article 35A.
On August 6, the Supreme Court will hear a petition against the Article 35A of the Constitution, which empowers the state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to them.
Senior separatist trio Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) met at Geelani’s residence on Sunday and deliberated on the “serious challenge” posed to Article 35A in the SC.
“The attempt to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir and insidiously destroy its disputed nature has always been on the agenda of BJP/RSS and the challenge to Articla 35A in the Supreme Court is a serious part of that plan,” JRL said in a statement after the meet.
The leaders said the plan meant “Kashmiris will become a minority in their own land” and “will be pushed to the margins”.
While Article 370 of the constitution grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35A disallows people from the rest of India from buying or owning immovable property in the state, settle permanently, or get state government jobs.
“We want to make it clear to government of India that Kashmiris will not take this attack on them lying low. Any and every attempt made at changing the demographic nature of the state will be stiffly resisted,” the statement said.
JRL said they have been in touch with “all segments of society, including the legal fraternity, traders, civil society members, academia and others and there is complete unanimity and cohesion among all with regard to resisting and fighting this serious assault together”.
A group of civil society members have also called for a statewide shutdown on August 6 to protest “onslaught” on Article 35A and Article 370.
Not only the separatists but mainstream parties have come out openly against any change to the constitutional guarantees to the state.
At a public function in Srinagar on Sunday, NC leader Farooq Abdullah was quoted by a local news agency saying: “National Conference has rendered innumerable sacrifices to fight for the unity, integrity and dignity of J&K and will continue to thwart all attempts to erode the state’s special status. We will fight against all ploys to assault Article 35A and won’t allow the powers that be fiddle with our political status and honour”.
Senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra on Saturday warned of a massive agitation if Article 35A was fiddled with. “We will launch statewide agitation and will go for jail bharo,” he said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged separatists and mainstream parties to join hands to defend Articles 35 A and 370.
During the PDP-BJP rule, Mehbooba had promised to defend the Article 35 A in the apex court. After the two split and Mufti resigned, separatists and mainstream parties feared the state will not defend its case as the BJP and RSS were opposed to it.