Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 6: Asserting that people protecting Article 35-A are tacitly accepting that Jammu and Kashmir's future lies within the Indian Constitution, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said 'otherwise how would it matter if it were struck down or diluted'.
In an apparent reference to the strike called by separatists, Mr Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site twitter, "Protecting #Article35A is a tacit acceptance that J&K's future lies within the Constitution of India otherwise how would it matter if it were struck down or diluted?" Normal life remained crippled for the second successive day as shop and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in Kashmir valley due to a two-day strike called by separatists till Monday to protest alleged attempts being made to abrogate Article 35-A. However, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of the case till August 27.
"Kashmir has shut down to protect a provision of the Indian constitution. When was the last time anyone was able to frame that headline? #Article35A," Mr Abdullah, who is the vice president of National Conference (NC), tweeted.
A number of writ petitions had been filed challenging Article 35 A, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define "permanent residents" of the state. The Article provides special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of the state.
A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justice A M Khanwilkar, said, "We would hear the matter on August 27, and on that day, a three-judge bench would determine whether the matter is required to be referred to a five-judge bench. |
