Jammu & Kashmir: Supreme Court to Hear Plea on Article 35-A on Aug 31, Separatists Call Two-Day Strike From Thursday

Srinagar, Aug 27: The separatists have given a renewed call for strike in Jammu & Kashmir on August 30-31, to mark the state's angst against any potential intervention into Article 35-A, which bars non-J&K residents from buying property in the state.

The strike was earlier scheduled on August 2-27. However, the deferment of case proceedings by the apex court Monday to Friday compelled the Joint Resistance Leadership to delay the protests.

"As the Supreme Court of India is now hearing the case challenging the state subject law of J&K on 31st August as such the statewide protest hartal by JRL (Joint Resistance Leadership) against this nefarious move will now be observed on 30th & 31st Aug. However protests by different segments of society will continue (sic)," said Hurriyat (M) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

The plea seeking scrapping of Article 35-A was moved by a non-governmental organisation 'We the Citizens' in 2014. The petition sought the abrogation of the law calling it "unconstitutional".

The law was incorporated into the Indian Constitution in 1954, in a bid to secure the "special status" of Jammu & Kashmir following its unification with India.

A section of the J&K regional parties, along with the separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference, have accused the Centre of "conspiring" to scrap Article 35-A in a bid to change the demography of the Valley.

Former CM Mehbooba Mufti has described Article 35-A as one of the last strings connecting J&K with India. Any changes to the law, she said, will boost the anti-India sentiment in the state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 08:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).