27 Kashmir trading bodies join hand to protest attempts against Art 35 A, appeal SC to dismiss anti Art 35 A petitions

Srinagar, July, 30 : The representatives of 27  bodies of trade and industry in Kashmir on Monday joined hands to protest attempts made to abrogate Article-35 A and dilute the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir state under Article 370.

Appealing the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions challenging the validity of Article 35-A, the representatives from trade, tourism, horticulture and industry bodies said the case “was adding fuel to Kashmir unrest and fiddling with the constitutional provision would be catastrophic”.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the trade leaders extended their support to the two-day strike call issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership on August 5 and 6.

The members of the business fraternity said that different trade bodies would hold protests to safeguard special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Supreme Court will on August 6 hear the petitions challenging the Article 35-A which defines permanent residents of the state.

Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Forum (KTMF) president, Muhammad Yasin Khan said: “We are ready to face bullets in order to protect the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be an all out war if Centre scraps the Article 35-A. It is a matter of life and death for us.”

While expressing his support to the protest programme, Khan who is also chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance, said: “Business community be it traders, hoteliers or transporters are ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the special status of our state. Government is using all dirty tactics to take away over special status but we won’t let that happen.” Khan said