Srinagar
Members of the various trade, industries, and transport organizations on Sunday held a protest demonstration against the attempts to abrogate special status of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar.
Traders including Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Federation of the chamber of commerce and industries, Kashmir (FCIK) assembled near the Ganta Ghar in Lal Chowk holding placards and banners and registered their protest against the abrogation of special status (Article 35 A).
While leading a protest rally in the summer capital of Srinagar, the Kashmir Traders and Manufactures Federation (KTMF), President Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan said the hearing on the case on the sensitive as 35 A as heightened tensions as the people are apprehensive of their fate and thus ready to sacrifice everything to safeguard their existence.
Flanked by other Kashmir Inc leaders including Ashraf Mir (FCIK), Iqbal Tramboo (KEA), Khan said any fiddling with the Article 35 A could trigger a catastrophe in the entire south Asian region than to talk of Kashmir alone.
“When New Delhi should have been serious to take measures to improve situation through initiation of efforts for final settlement Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the state, some hidden forces are hell-bent to keep Kashmir on the boil through such sinister petitions, while people are being pushed towards a decisive battle,” Khan said.
Khan questioned that as to why all such petitions that aim to weaken the special status of Kashmir or to bring demographic changes in the only Muslim dominated state are taking place largely from last four years.
Khan said the timing of such cases looks equally conspiring. “We appeal the honorable Supreme Court to dismiss the petition so that the wild fears in the minds of already victimized people of Jammu and Kashmir come to an end once for all.
The Kashmir Inc equally appealed the PM Narendra Modi led government in New Delhi to handle the case delicately. “Any fiddling with the Article 35 A will only push the people of Kashmir to a do or die situation and onus of any such development will lie on New Delhi,” the Kashmir Inc said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of KTMF claimed that similar protests were simultaneously held in other parts of the Valley at various district headquarters including Handwara, Tral, Islamabad, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian.
Protest over abrogation of special status have been held across the length and breadth of Kashmir over the past few days by various organizations included Bar Association, transporters, and trade bodies. They also extended their support to the shutdown call.
Apart from the local trade and transport bodies mainstream parties like the National Conference and PDP also holding rallies in support of continuing Article 35-A.
