As the Supreme Court has accepted the plea of the J&K Government to hear the petitions challenging Article 35A after Diwali, supporters and opponents of the Article have intensified their awareness campaigns to mobilise support for their respective causes.
The Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition National Conference (NC) have already started educating people on the benefits of Article 35A, which ensures special status to J&K.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is on a tour of the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri to educate people about the Article.
Similarly, NC president Farooq Abdullah is also on a mission to get all parties together so as to unitedly defend the Article.
Although the BJP, which is in favour of abrogating the Article, has maintained a guarded silence on the issue due to the coalition compulsion, social groups have intensified their campaign to mobilise countrymen against the Article.
Some ‘victims’ of Article 35A are already camping in Delhi to mobilise support for their cause. The ‘victims’ have met social activists and legal luminaries to brief them about their ‘plight’, seeking their support in getting the Article abrogated.
The Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC), a Delhi-based group, which had pin-pointed legal loopholes in Article 35A, has started organising seminars, symposiums and workshops throughout the country against the Article and trying to project it as anti-women and against the weaker sections.
With the collaboration of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the JKSC is going to screen a documentary on Article 35A on September 2 in Delhi. The film will highlight the ‘plight’ of ‘victims’ of the Article.
Former Governor Jagmohan will be the chief guest at the documentary screening function. Former Law Minister and eminent lawyer Jagdeep Dhankar is going to deliver a key note address at the event. Although the documentary was produced three year ago, the JKSC has decided to screen it now to support the ongoing debate.
Mobilising support
The Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition National Conference are educating people on the benefits of Article 35A, which ensures special status to J&K
The Jammu Kashmir Study Centre, a Delhi-based group, which had pin-pointed legal loopholes in Article 35A, is organising seminars, symposiums and workshops throughout the country against the Article and trying to project it as anti-women and against the weaker sections
Supporters, Opponents intensify campaign over Special Status
