SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30: Amid complete shutdown, Peaceful protests were held today across Kashmir against the legal challenge to the validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court.
All business establishments and office remained closed today besides traffic was also off the road. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a two-day strike — Thursday and Friday — as Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a PIL challenging the validity of the Article 35A on Friday.
Authorities had imposed restrictions in some parts of the city as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order. The areas where restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed include police station Khanyar, Nowhatta, Maharajgunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Maisuma and Kralkhud.
The officials said security forces have been deployed in strength at vulnerable places in the city and elsewhere in Kashmir for maintaining law and order.
Protesters wowed to defend the constitutional provision, that bars people from outside Jammu and Kashmir acquire any immovable property in the state.
Protests were held Tangdhar and Tral township of north and south Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Pulwama respectively to support Article 35-A which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Reports said that scores of residents of Tral township, including members of Sikh community, staged a protest in the main town against attempts to scrap Article 35-A, which grants special privileges to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
People from all walks of life, including trade unions, took part in the protest. The protesters, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against scrapping of Article 35-A.
In the frontier district of Kupwara, scores of residents from Tangdhar-Karnah area also held a protest demonstration in support of Article 35-A.
Reports said that people coming from different age groups assembled at the main market Tanghdar and staged a protest. The protesters who were carrying with pro-Article 35-A messages written on them also raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In Srinagar Industrialists association of Khunmoh also held a protest demonstration near Ghanta Ghar Lal Chowk Srinagar against the attempts to abrogate the Article 35-A.
Scores of Industrialists association of Khunmoh members assembled near the Ganta Ghar in Lal Chowk holding placards and banners and registered their protest against attempts to abrogate the Article 35-A.
The protesting industrialists demanded the immediate dismissal of the petition challenging the validity of Article 35-A in Constitution of India.
In Budgam State President of the Rahul Gandhi Fan Association, protested saying that till date 35A and 370, Jammu and Kashmir has been identified till today and our existence will not end. And our oldest name will not remain forever, for which future generations will not forgive us.
In Kangan traders body protest March at Kangan market In support of Article 35A. (PTK)