35-A
Article 35-A: Police will ‘revolt’ in Kashmir if State Subject Law scrapped, Intel agencies tell Govt
There could be a full fledged “revolt” in the police ranks if the Supreme Court passes an “adverse” order on Article 35-A of the Constitution, Intelligence agencies have warned, according to a report by NDTV’s Nazir Masoodi quoting high level sources.
According to the report, Intelligence agencies have warned about the revolt in a written communication to the state government.
People across the political and regional divide have come together to protest against attempts to revoke Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
The state government employees, trade unions, business associations, civil society groups and lawyers have threatened to go on protest if the special constitutional position of the state is compromised.
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On Friday, PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that fiddling with the State’s special status would have ‘catastrophic ramifications’ for the entire country.
For the last one week, there have been series of protests as clamour is growing to retain Article 35A. Sensing trouble, the state government headed by Governor NN Vohra has requested the Supreme Court to delay the case till local body and panchayat elections due in October.
A complete shutdown is being observed across Kashmir following a shutdown call by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) to protest against attempts to abrogate of Article 35 A.
All business establishments, government, and private offices are closed, while transport remained off the roads.
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Earlier, JRL had called for a shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and 6 to register their total disapproval and resistance to the “politically motivated” move of abrogation of Article 35-A.
In Jammu too, the call was responded to.
Protests were held amid a complete shutdown in Ramban district of Jammu against attempt to abrogate Article 35-A, which bars outsiders from buying land in the state.
ALSO READ: More than 300 lawyers of Jammu region pass resolution for strengthening, retention of Article 35-A
Shutdown is also being observed in Banihal, Khari and Gool areas of the district. Shops and other commercial establishments are closed while traffic is off the roads.
Markets in Banihal on the highway and in adjoining villages of Nowgam, Tethar, Chareel Kaskoot and Dooligam are also closed.
In Gool, scores of men held a protest against any move to tinker with the constitutional provision.
