By Owais Gul
Srinagar: Kashmir Traders Manufacturing Federation (KTMF), a local trader body on Tuesday staged a protest to express their resentment against the attempts to revoke Article 35-A.
KTMF headed by Bashir Ahmad Rather assembled near Aali Masjid here at Eidgah to protest against any fiddling with the State Subject Law.
The trade body was joined by the shopkeepers of Iqbal market during which they raised slogans in favour of Article 35-A.
The protesting traders vowed to fight for the protection of Article 35-A with the blood, saying that any tempering with the constitution will be unacceptable to the people of Kashmir.
Bashir Ahmad Rather while talking to media persons said that the top court of India must dismiss the plea, seeking revocation of Article 35-A, saying that the people of Kashmir are united to fight for its protection at any cost.
Rather said its stands the obligation of every citizen of the State to raise their voice over the protection of the law so that the identity of JK people will be safeguarded. He said a top priority is to safeguard the interests of Kashmiris who are facing “renewed onslaught with rise of right wing in India”.
“We appeal people from all shades to join their hands to protect the law in unison,” he added.
Notably, Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a bunch of petitions over the Article 35-A case on August 31.
Earlier on Monday, Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on a fresh plea, challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud did not take up the matter as the petitioner had circulated a letter in the apex court registry seeking adjournment of hearing on the plea.
Lawyer and Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, in a fresh plea, had sought a direction to the central and state governments to declare Article 35-A of the Constitution as “arbitrary” on the ground that it was contrary to fundamental rights like the right to equality, dignity of women, freedom of speech and expression and the right to life and personal liberty.
The hearing of the case on Monday also triggered clashes and partial shutdown in the Valley after the rumours were spread across the Valley that the constitution was abrogated by the top court of India.
During the clashes, over a dozen of protesters sustained injuries who were either treated locally or rushed to the hospital for advanced treatment.
Five among the injured who had received pellet injuries were shifted to SMHS hospital here for specialized treatment.
pic by zargar zahoor
