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Article 35A issue; Protest dharna by traders

MAJID NABI. Dated: 8/21/2018 10:57:09 AM

SRINAGAR, Aug 20: As part of their protest programme, traders today sat on a peaceful dharna here against alleged plans to change demographic character of the state by challenging Article 35A in Supreme Court of India.
Holding placards, “We will not allow tinkering with Article 35A” and “Interference with Article 35A not acceptable”, dozens of traders under the banner of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) amid sloganeering held a sit-in at Pratap Park to protest the onslaught on state subject law.
The protesters said that any move which goes against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir state will invite ‘calamitous’ situation while the entire population will come out on the roads to resist.
Protest was followed on the call of Kashmir Inc which claimed to have support of twenty seven various business organizations.
They said that since Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional legality of the Act in past, what makes outsiders to challenge it afresh.
“What is the motive behind challenging Article 35A again in Supreme Court when the top court of India has in the past upheld the legal authenticity of state subject law according to Jammu and Kashmir by its then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927,” said a KTMF member.
He said that any attempt aimed at changing demographic character or any amendment will bring the entire population in Kashmir on roads.
“I would like to warn those who want to do away with Article 35A that situation in Kashmir will go out of control incase Supreme Court announces its verdict against the Act,” he added.
The protesting KTMF members appealed Supreme Court of India to dismiss the PIL filed by a New Delhi based NGO to avoid fresh peoples uprising in the state especially Kashmir valley.