Even as separatists as well as mainstream parties of the Kashmir valley have announced ‘mass movement’ to safeguard Article 35A at any cost, Jammu is silently waiting for the apex court’s verdict on this provision of the Constitution. A Delhi-based NGO along with some individuals have challenged the constitutional validity of this Article in the Supreme Court.
Although a majority of the population in Jammu is against what they called ‘discriminatory’ Article, people in the region prefer remaining calm to repose their faith in the court. Locals are confident that this Article will not stand a chance during the legal scrutiny.
Article 35A, which imposes some restrictions on the people from other parts of the country as well as wards of the daughters of the state who married a non-state subject to have ownership rights on property in the state — has become a hot topic of debate in the country and particularly in the state.
The Kashmir valley and Jammu region once again are at loggerheads over the debate on Article 35A as the Valley is in its support while Jammu finds it to be a violation of the fundamental rights.
“Yes, Jammu is silent over Article 35A because we have full faith in the country’s legal system and when some issue is in the Supreme Court then there is no need to come on to roads in support of it or in opposition,” said Subash Khajuria, a retired government employee.
“Jammu has always been against Article 370 and the main reason behind it is that our daughters who get married outside the state cannot claim the property rights for their wards in J&K while if our sons get married outside the state, their wives as well as children get all rights in the state,” he added.
Meanwhile, as the constitutional validity of Article 35A has been challenged in the Supreme Court, different political parties have come up with different views, which suit their political aspirations.
Jammu parties are in favour of the debate under the court of law, however, the Kashmiri leadership has flared up the issue in the Valley by attaching religion with it.
“It is a debatable issue under the court of law, but not a religious issue. Kashmiri leaders are misguiding people for their political benefits. The issue is in the Supreme Court, so let the court decide after hearing both the sides,” said Pankaj Saroch, an IT engineer.
“I personally feel that if Article 35A gets abolished, it will be a boon for the state industry. Moreover, it will end discrimination being faced by the women of the state,” he argued
Unlike Valley, Jammu region silently awaits SC verdict on Article 35A
