February 2019 | Page 2 of 10

Supreme Court may hear petition on Article 35A this week

February 26, 2019February 26, 2019 Editor

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A, which provides special rights and privileges to natives of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, this week. The crucial hearing, which could be listed from February 26 to February 28, assumes significance in view of the toughening stand of the state-based political parties on the sensitive issue. The Supreme Court website, in its weekly list, has listed as many as six petitions including the lead plea of NGO ‘We The Citizens’ for…

Tampering with special status will erode mainstream in JK: Sajad Gani Lone

February 26, 2019February 26, 2019 Editor

Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone Monday said any attempts to tamper with Article 35-A was bound to result in a massive backlash for mainstream thought and would result in disenchantment and disillusionment in the State. “Any tinkering with the special status of Jammu Kashmir is not only intolerable and unacceptable but would also amount to the erosion of the mainstream thought and space in J&K. It is pertinent to understand that the State’s special status is an article of faith between the people of the State and the…

An emergency meeting of Kashmir contact group being called by OIC

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) will hold an emergency meeting of its Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Following a request from Pakistan, the meeting of the contact group will be held at the level of permanent representatives. “On the request of Islamic Republic of Pakistan a meeting of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir … will be held at the OIC General Secretariat” on Tuesday at 11am,” reported Dawn. A notice marked “urgent” has been sent to members of the contact group by the OIC…

Truth of Pulwama attack will come out if Ajit Doval is probed: Raj Thackeray

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

Calling the CRPF jawans killed in the Pulwama terror attack “political victims”, MNS chief Raj Thackeray claimed on Sunday that the “truth” will come out if National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was questioned. “If NSA Ajit Doval is investigated, then all the truth about the Pulwama terror attack will come out,” Thackeray said in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. “At the time of the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy shooting for a film at Corbett National Park. Even after the news of the terror attack was flashed his…

If Article 35A goes Kashmir will become autonomous

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

With both India and Pakistan locking horns after the recent Pulwama attack, a heated debate is going around on Article 35A. Speculations are rife that the Article might be abrogated. But before reaching to any conclusion we must understand what if Article 35 A is abrogated. A PIL filed in Supreme Court of India for abrogation of Article 35A which is questioning its validity. The important part of the PIL and the main legality issues pointed is: “Article 35A was not added to the Constitution by following the due procedure…

Tinkering with Articles 370, 35A will render Instrument of Accession null and void: Mehbooba Mufti

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said any tinkering with Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, which provide special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will render null and void the state’s Instrument of Accession with India. “Article 370 is the constitutional connection between J&K & Indian Union. Instrument of accession is contingent on Article 370 which is inextricably linked to Article 35A. Any tampering will render Treaty of Accession null and void,” Mehbooba said in a series of tweets. She said Kashmir Valley is rife with speculation about…

‘Something bad is brewing’ Post troop movement, and arrests, Kashmiris stock up on essentials

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

On Friday night, fighter jets and helicopters hovered over the city as the police, backed by the army, raided the premises of separatist groups in the Kashmir valley and arrested their leaders and activists. Then, news spread on social media that 100 companies of paramilitary troops were being airlifted to Kashmir for immediate deployment. By Saturday, fear and uncertainty gripped many residents of the troubled region who speculated about what may be afoot. Some thought it was the backdrop for a war with Pakistan following the February 14 Pulwama suicide…

Kashmir shivers amid Chaos, Arrests, and Warnings

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

A series of emergency orders issued by the state, arrival of paramilitary troops and the mass arrests of separatists and religious preachers in last two days has sparked wild speculations in Kashmir and enveloped the region in an unusual fear of war. The unusually high tension in the Valley has come in the backdrop of the Pulwama attack. The series of measures ordered by various government departments, either deliberate or coincidentally taking place in a brief span, has generated intense anxiety among residents who rushed to markets to ration large…

Will rectify Nehru’s ‘Kashmir Blunder’: BJP chief Amit Shah

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 Editor

Amid rumours in the Valley about the abrogation of Article 35A of the Constitution, BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday vowed to rectify the “blunders committed” by the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in dealing with J&K after Partition. “I am giving this message from Jammu that the Narendra Modi government is committed to rectify the mistakes of the great-grandfather of Congress president Rahul Gandhi,” Shah said while addressing a rally organised by the party to pay tributes to Pulwama martyrs. As large numbers of party workers raised slogans against…

Shutdown tomorrow to protest the mass arrest, censorship and any tampering with article 35-A: Joint Resistance Leadership

February 23, 2019February 23, 2019 Editor

The joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Saturday called for shutdown tomorrow to protest the mass arrest, censorship and any tampering with article 35-A. In a statement issued here the leadership said that the arbitrary arrest of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and the “mass crackdown and illegal detention” of more than 150 Jamat e Islami cadre and leadership including its Ameer Abdul Hamid Fayaz last night in nocturnal raids across the valley looks to be not only part of the…