by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Srinagar : Life across the Kashmir Valley was adversely affected on Friday by a separatist-called protest shutdown to voice support for Article 35A.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a conglomerate of separatists headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik called a complete shutdown on Friday to highlight support for the article.
All shops, public transport, other businesses and educational institutions remained closed in Srinagar and other places in the valley.
Attendance in government offices, banks and post offices was badly affected because of non-availability of public transport in the city and other districts of the valley.
Post-graduate entrance exams have already been rescheduled because of the shutdown. Rail services between Baramulla and Bannihal towns were also suspended for the second consecutive day.
Authorities imposed restrictions in several areas — Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R.Gunj, Safa Kadal, Kralkhud and Maisuma to maintain law and order, police said.
Heavy deployments of police and paramilitary forces have been made in areas placed under restrictions and other law and order sensitive places in the Valley.
Article 35A of the Constitution empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define the states ‘permanent residents’ and their special rights.
It has been challenged in the Supreme Court through a bunch of petitions being heard by a three-judge bench on Friday.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Sringar : Authorities on Monday imposed a shutdown on Srinagar and some other parts of the Kashmir Valley following rumours that the Supreme Court has scrapped Article 35A, police said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a statement here, saying: “Some sections of the media have circulated news regarding scrapping of the Article 35A. The news has been refuted as baseless. People are requested to maintain calm and not to pay heed to these rumours.”
As a precaution, shops, public transport and other businesses were shut.
Clashes between stone pelting protesters and the security forces were also reported in Anantnag district and other places.
Petitions challenging Article 35A which gives powers to the state legislature to define permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and their privileges, has been listed for hearing by the Supreme Court on Friday.
Reports from Delhi said a fresh petition seeking scrapping of the Article is being filed in the apex court on Monday which fuelled the rumours.
Governor Satya Pal Malik has engaged Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehra to defend the Article.
Authorities have decreased the speed of mobile internet across the Valley.
Separtists have called for a general shutdown on Friday and Saturday to highlight the public support for the Article.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Economy, News, Politics
Srinagar : Life across the Kashmir Valley remained adversely affected for the second consecutive day due to a separatist-called protest shutdown on Monday.
Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for the protest shutdown to voice support for Article 35A.
The article has been challenged in the Supreme Court. A petition seeking abrogation of this article will be heard by the apex court on Monday.
Shops, markets, public transport, other businesses and educational institutions remained closed here and other district headquarters of the valley.
Very few private vehicles were seen moving on city roads here and elsewhere in the valley.
Authorities placed senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house arrest.
Although Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has evaded arrest by going underground.
Authorities suspended the Amarnath Yatra from Jammu to Srinagar for the second day on Monday because of the shutdown.
An official, however, said pilgrims who have already reached the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps will continue to perform the Yatra on Monday.
Rail services between the valley and the Bannihal town of Jammu region also remained suspended for the second day.
Although heavy deployments of police and paramilitary forces have been made in Srinagar and other sensitive areas yet no restrictions were imposed anywhere.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
Srinagar : Shah Faesal, an IAS officer whose recourse to social media attracted disciplinary action earlier, on Sunday compared Article 35A of the Constitution to a marriage deed or ‘nikahnama’.
“You repeal it and the relationship is over. Nothing will remain to be discussed afterwards,” Faesal said.
Responding to Faesal’s remarks, former Minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar retweeted the comment and added his own views.
“Repealing it will be like marital rape. Converting a constitutional relationship into occupation.”
Separatist leaders who have all along maintained that they do not recognize the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over the state have also closed their ranks to fight for preservation of Article 35A.
Promulgated on May 14, 1954, the Article gives state legislature the power to define the permanent residents of the state and also their privileges.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
By Sheikh Qayoom,
Srinagar/Jammu : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday sought to address the concerns over the legal challenge to the Constitution’s Article 35A by stating that the Narendra Modi government would do nothing that would go against the aspirations of Kashmiri people while also asserting that he was ready to come here and meet anyone to bring peace to the state.
Concluding his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley on Monday, he also said that the situation here was improving and he could see “the green buds of peace on the trees”.
Addressing the media before leaving on two-day visit to Jammu, he said the controversy round article 35A was a non-issue that was being unfortunately raked up.
“The centre will do nothing that would go against the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people regarding article 35A.
“I feel there is no reason for doubt and confusion on this issue. The centre has not gone to the court in this regard and I want to assure that whatever our government will do, it will not go against the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said.
Asked about the divergent positions taken by the RSS and even the BJP leaders and ministers who were demanding the abrogation of the article that gives special privileges to the permanent residents of J&K, an assertive Rajnath Singh said: “I am a BJP leader and the Home Minister of the country. My statement on this issue should be taken as final.”
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her predecessor Omar Abdullah both welcomed the assurance, but the latter also sought that the central government should now translate the assurance on ground by filing a counter affidavit in the Supreme Court.
Rajnath Singh, meanwhile asked about starting a political initiative in the state, said: “I have never counted the number of times I came here. I have always come with an open mind, but people must come forward to talk.”
Asked about the arrests of separatist leaders in the state, he said the National Investigation Agency is acting according to the law of the land, but added that this should not deter those who want to talk to the government.
“Law will take its course, but we are ready to speak to everybody. We have never opposed talks. The all party delegation came here and met everybody, we did not oppose that. I have already said that all stakeholders are welcome and anybody ready to talk to us is welcome,” he asserted.
He also said that during his present trip, he was convinced that things were improving in the Valley.
“What I have seen during last two, three days has convinced me that the trees of peace have not dried up. I can see green buds of peace on these trees.
“I have not counted how many times I have come here. If I have to come 50 times to bring peace to J&K, I will do that,” he asserted.
Singh said he met 55 delegations during this visit and was always ready to meet anyone without reservations.
“I have met non-political people including students, teachers, things are improving with every passing day. The situation may not have improved completely, but it is improving. I don’t want to leave out anyone with whom dialogue is possible,” he added.
He said he was moved to tears while paying tributes to slain policemen in south Kashmir.
“While giving tributes to Kashmir policemen, the face of ASI Abdul Rashid’s daughter, Zohra was passing through my mind. We want every face in Kashmir to smile,” he said.
He said the issue of disturbed area allowance to state policemen on the pattern of central armed forces was being considered.
On the developmental front, he said: “I have reviewed the progress on the implementation of Prime Minister’s developmental package for the state. From the initially slotted Rs 85,000 crore, it will now cross Rs 100,000 crore.”
The minister also said that children must have been pushed by motivators to commit crimes and they should not be treated as criminals.
“They must be dealt under juvenile justice system and not be put into jails. They must be properly counselled. I told security forces that no excesses should be committed during operations.”
He blamed terrorists for destroyed generations of Kashmir and reaffirmed that the government will not allow another generation to be destroyed.
“Poor people and businessman, youth with positive attitude and tourism industry have immensely suffered. After a wrong message went out, tourists stopped coming here. I want to send them a message that the people of Kashmir are ready to receive you, there is no danger here,” he said.
On the use of pellet gun, he said they had introduced the PAVA gun to replace it but he had been told that it is not very effective. However, he added that in comparison to past, less people have been injured during crowd control in the Valley during the past months.
He denied any political party delegations had sought revocation of the stringent AFSPA during their meetings with him.
Rajnath Singh held later a rally in Naushera in Jammu region where he said India wanted peace with Pakistan, but will respond to its ceasefire violations sternly. He also met residents of border villages who have migrated to safer places due to the ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops.
In Jammu city, various delegations called on him.
—IANS
