Shutdown on the Day of 35-A Hearing: JRL

Srinagar, Feb 18(KMW): Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik today said that they are in constant touch with the Bar Association as the crucial hearing of article 35 A is again scheduled for February 20 and 21. The list of cases comes to fore in the evening a day before the case is listed for hearing ,so whenever the case challenging the hereditary state subject law 35A that has a direct bearing on the Kashmir dispute comes up for hearing before the Indian supreme court, people will observe a complete protest strike.
In a joint statement issued here, JRL said the shutdown on the day when the case about Article 35 A would be heard by the Indian Supreme Court should send a clear message to India that any attempt to tamper with the J&K’s citizenship rights would not be tolerated, come what may. The leadership said that the series of petitions filed by BJP/RSS activists before the Indian Supreme Court is actually a move to change the demography of the State by allowing non-state residents to settle down here and change its Muslim majority character, an eyesore for communally minded outfits. This illegal and immoral plan in a place that is a world acknowledged dispute where people are struggling for the past 70 years for its just resolution, will be resisted by one and all with full might and determination, and at all cost.
No Power on earth can cow Kashmiris into submission and make them give up there legitimate and principled demand as they have especially shown in the last 30 years by standing up to one of the worst state oppression in the world.
The leadership said that the initial sell out and constant compromise by the regional pro-India parties who are the collaborators with New Delhi have brought the situation to a point where the fate of disputed J&K is in jeopardy leaving people with the no option other than to hit the streets and agitate strongly to safeguard the whatever little exists.
The leadership said that people should brace themselves and be ready to launch an assertive campaign united with all on board. It’s an issue of our very existence.