Ahead of Art 35-A hearing traders, employees take out protest marches in Srinagar

Srinagar: Ahead of Article 35-A hearing in the Supreme Court (SC), the valley traders and employees association carried out a protest rally in support of the constitution, pledging to fight for the protection of the law with their blood.
The protests were carried out by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) headed by Muhammad Yasin Khan, Kashmir Economic Alliance led by Farooq Ahmad Dar and CAPD Employees Association Kashmir headed by Aijaz Khan.
Police this afternoon foiled the protest of KEA who had planned to held a –sit-in outside High Court here and present a memorandum seeking protection of Article 35-A there.
Led by Dar, the protesters while marching towards High Court raised slogans in favour of Article 35-A.
Soon after the protesters reached near Jahangir Chowk, police foiled their attempt.
Earlier, Dar said that the protests will continue until all the petitions filed before the top court of India be dismissed.
He said that nobody will be allowed to scrap the law.
KTMF headed by Muhammad Yasin Khan also carried out a protest rally from Ganta Ghar to Srinagar’s Press Enclave here to express unity over safeguarding the law.
Dozens of traders while carrying banners and placards raised slogans in favour of the State Subject Law.
The protesting traders pledged to fight for the protection of the law with their blood, saying that traders are united in defending the constitution.
Khan said that any onslaught on Article 35-A is unacceptable to the people of Kashmir including the trade bodies. “We are ready to spill our blood for the protection of the law,” he added.
Later, the protesters dispersed off peacefully.
Meanwhile, scores of members of CAPD Employees Association Kashmir led by its president Aijaz Ahmad Khan carried out a protest march in support of Article 35-A.
After assembling assembled at Pratap Park, the protesting employees carrying banner and placards marched towards Clock tower to express their resentment over attempts to revoke the constitution.
Khan said that the employees will be on the forefront to raise the voice against the evil designs, hell-bent to scrap the law. “The Supreme Court must dismiss the bunch of petitions, seeking scrapping of Article 35-A,” he said.
The protesting CAPD employees later dispersed off peacefully near Ganta Ghar.
Meanwhile, scores of members from a lesser known organization namely Kashmir Revolutionary Forum also staged protest against the attempts to revoke Article 35-A.
The member of the forum assembled at Press Enclave here and chanted slogans in favour of Article 35-A.
They said that any fiddling with the law would prove disastrous in the state as the people of Jammu and Kashmir are ready to fought for its protection at any cost.