Srinagar, Aug 09: Kashmir Economic Alliance, an umbrella body of Valley-based trade and commerce organisations, on Tuesday hit streets here in protest against “proposed” abrogation of Article 35-A that confines special rights and privileges on J&K’s permanent residents. The protesters also raised slogans against implementation of GST regime in the state.
After holding a sit-in at Press Enclave here, the traders started a protest march towards civil secretariat which, however, was foiled by police. The trade leaders including Farooq Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Sidiq Ronga, Haji Nisar and Tassaduq Hussain Laway were detained by police, but released later in the day. The protest was also joined by KEA chairman Muhammad Yousuf Chapri.
Prior to the march, KEA co-chairman Farooq Ahmad Dar addressed journalists and expressed concerns over “efforts” being made for abrogation of Article 35-A. He also said GST is a “direct attack on state’s fiscal autonomy.”
“GST would take away our fiscal autonomy and dilute the state’s special status. The PDP-BJP government is implementing the RSS agenda and is hell bent upon doing away with Article 370,” he said.
Dar said the KEA will raise awareness on “dangerous consequences” of abrogation of Article 35-A among common people and “intensify protests if the special status is tinkering with.”
“While the wounds inflicted on state’s autonomy through extension of GST are still fresh, another new ploy has been launched to question the validity of Article 35-A now,” Dar said.
Muhammad Sidiq Ronga, spokesperson of KEA, said abrogation Article 35-A will have a “cascading impact” on the situation in Kashmir.
“By attempting to tinker with state’s special status, the government will be playing with fire because the situation can flare up and we can have a scenario grimmer than last year,” Ronga said.
‘PLAYING WITH FIRE’
Any attempt to tinker with Article 35-A which confers special rights and privileges on J&K’s permanent residents is “akin to playing with fire”, Kashmir’s business community said on Tuesday and warned that it would launch a massive agitation if the constitutional provision is abrogated.
Chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance Muhammad Yaseen Khan said: “The BJP-led government at Centre is using every dirty trick to harm our special status while Kashmir-based PDP is helping them for the sake of chair.”
“This is not a fight of business community alone but will affect everyone in the state. Attempts are being made to abrogate our special status. If they would do it, it would be a watershed moment in our history because we won’t hold back. Kashmiris can go to any extent to protect the special status,” he said.
He said the business leaders would launch a massive agitation if Article 35-A is harmed. “It is about our identity,” he said.
Khan said after implementation of GST, the PDP-BJP government is “preparing for another assault on our special status.”
“We all have to come forward, be it commoners, politicians, businessmen or civil society members to protect our special status. The mainstream politicians are playing in the hands of BJP,” he said.
President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, termed “attempts” to abrogate Article 35-A as a “deep-rooted conspiracy to dis-empower people of J&K.”
“There is a pattern to all this. First they implemented GST which took away our fiscal autonomy and now they want to abrogate Article 35-A. BJP is actually fulfilling its poll promise but unfortunately local mainstream political parties are helping them in this dirty mission,” he said.
“How can our economy flourish in this situation when day in and day out attempts are being made to weaken us,” he said.
Chairman, Kashmir Economic Forum, Showkat Chowdhary warned that they would hit streets if Article 35-A is abrogated. “There is well planned conspiracy going on to take away our special status, but we will not let it happen. We would oppose it tooth and nail and can go to any extent to protect our special status,” he said.
President, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Bashir Ahmad Rather said tinkering with Article 35-A is “akin to playing with fire.”
“Both the state government and government of India should understand this and not do any harm to our special status; otherwise the situation will take an ugly turn,” he said.
KEA hits streets against ‘attack’ on special status
