Valley protests ‘attempt’ to abrogate Article 35-A
A complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley in view of a shutdown call given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against attempts to abrogate Article 35-A.
Shops, public transport and educational institutions were closed across Kashmir as well as some parts of Chenab Valley.
Reports said that heavy contingents of police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in strength across the Valley to thaw any protests.
Similar reports of locked down from district headquarters were also received.
Interestingly, the entire Hurriyat leadership has been put under house detention or have been arrested.
The call for shutdown was issued by Joint Resistance Leadership against “assault” on state’s special status and “efforts” to abrogate Article 35-A.
Also, the Kashmir University (KU) and Board of School Education (BOSE) had also postponed all the examinations scheduled to be held on Saturday.
The shutdown call was also supported by traders and other stakeholders to mark their protest against the attempts to abrogate Article 35 (A).
Pertinently, a three-judge of Supreme Court bench is currently hearing a petition against Article 35-A provision that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define the state’s ‘permanent residents’ and their special rights and privileges.
The PIL was filed in 2014 by the NGO ‘We The Citizens’ seeking that the article be struck down.
The petition alleges that the state government, under the guise of the article, discriminates against non-residents in matters of government jobs or buying property.
In Srinagar, all shops and other business establishments are closed while traffic was off the roads.
In Baramulla, an unprecedented shutdown prevailed in the district. “People claimed that they have not witnessed such shutdown in past thirty years,” reports said.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was also observed in Chenab Valley to protest against a plea in the Supreme Court seeking abrogation of Article 35-A of the constitution.
Anjuman Islamia Bhadarwah, Markazi Seerat Committee Doda, Anjuman Islamia Gandoh, Masjid Committee Thathri and Majlis-e-Shoura Kishtwar also issued a bandh call, resulting in a complete shutdown in Chenab Valley by Muslim community.
Shops, other business establishments and some private schools of Muslim community remained closed, however government schools and offices functioned normally and traffic plied on the roads as usual.
In Kishtwar, all shops, business establishments and some educational institutions remained closed while transport also remained off the roads following the bandh call given by the Majlis-e-Shoora Kishtwar, which is an amalgam of local Imams and traders of Kishtwar.
Reports said that Doda, Gandoh and Thathri also observed complete shutdown on the JRL call.
KV Correspondent
