Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Aug 05: Valley traders on Sunday held a sit-in protest at Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) Lal Chowk here to protest the attempts to scrap Article 35-A.
The Kashmir Traders and Manufactures Federation (KTMF) members arrived at the historic Lal Chowk while carrying placards and banners.
Joining hands as one voice to defend the Article 35A, which contributes to safeguard of the special status of this state, the business leaders of Kashmir Inc on Sunday appealed the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition on Article 35 A as the case was adding fuel to the Kashmir unrest and that any fiddling with the delicate case could prove catastrophic for the region.
President KTMF Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan said the hearing on the case on the sensitive as Art 35-A as heightened tensions in the trouble torn region as the people are apprehensive of their fate and thus ready to sacrifice everything to safeguard their existence.
Flanked by other Kashmir Inc leaders including Ashraf Mir (FCIK), Iqbal Tramboo (KEA), Khan said any fiddling with the Article 35 A could trigger a catastrophe in the entire south Asian region than to talk of Kashmir alone.
“When New Delhi should have been serious to take measures to improve situation through initiation of efforts for final settlement Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the state, some hidden forces are hell bent to keep Kashmir on the boil through such sinister petitions, while people are being pushed towards a decisive battle,” Khan said.
Khan questioned that as to why all such petitions that aim to weaken the special status of Kashmir or to bring demographic changes in the only Muslim dominated state in accordance with the Hindutva agenda were taking place largely for the last four years.
Khan said timing of such cases look equally conspiring. “We appeal the honorable Supreme Court to dismiss the petition so that the wild fears in the minds of already victimized people of Jammu and Kashmir come to an end once for all.”
Khan maintained that the Kashmir Inc was not only speaking on behalf of the business community of the Valley alone but was making public the popular sentiment of the people of state in general.
“Like other Kashmiris we have always sacrificed for the cause of Kashmir and we won’t mind to sacrifice everything if our existence is at stake.”
He said it was faulty policies of the government which force the business community to speak on such issues when actually the businessmen should have been provided with a conducive environment to work.
The Kashmir Inc equally appealed the PM Narendra Modi led government in New Delhi to handle the case delicately. “Any fiddling with the Article 35 A will only push the people of Kashmir to a do or die situation and onus of any such development will lie on New Delhi,” the Kashmir Inc said.
Khan said that showing maturity New Delhi should initiate measures to resolve Kashmir and also reciprocate to Imran Khan’s offer of dialogue on the core issue so that sustainable peace and prosperity in restored in the region.
Supporting the stand of the Joint Hurriyat and the Kashmir’s civil society on the issue, the Kashmir Inc said it was a collective responsibility of every sane individual to be extra cautious.
Meanwhile similar protests were simultaneously held in other parts of the Valley at various district headquarters. Those who led the protests at other districts include Handwara,Tral, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian.
