Srinagar : Though Supreme Court Friday orning adjourned the hearing on Article 35A till January 19 next year, but unprecedented shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik hit normal life for the second consecutive day in Kashmir valley and parts of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal areas of Jammu province.
Srinagar the summer capital and other parts of Kashmir valley woke up to deserted roads and markets for second straight day as businesses and shops were closed and public transport including auto rickshawas remained off the roads amid heavy deployment of forces in restive areas.
Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had called for the two-day shutdown on Thursday and Friday across the state, blaming “the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) of attempts to change the demography of the state.
The strike call was supported by many organizations, including trade, travel and tourism bodies and civil society members, who have also threatened mass protests. Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq remained under house detention for the second consecutive day. He was put under house detention to prevent them from leading any protests in support of Article 35-A. Syed Ali Shah Geelani continues to remain under house detention. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik had gone into hiding.
Reports said that contingents of paramilitary forces were deployed at various sensitive points in Srinagar particularly old city areas. No Friday prayers were allowed in historic Jamia Masjid. Train services remain suspended across Kashmir, keeping in view of the shutdown call. Locals said that all four gates of the historic Jamia Masjid remain locked while all the roads leading to the historic Masjid were sealed by the authorities by erecting concertina wires.
The historic Masjid witnesses a huge gathering of Nimazis on every Friday where the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and head cleric of Jamia Masjid delivers sermons. The Jamia Masjid head cleric continued to remain under house detention since Thursday in view of the protests called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Mirwaiz in his tweet said that it was the 11th Friday of this year during which authorities barred Muslims to offer prayers at the historic Masjid, saying that these repressive measures will only strengthen their resolve. “11th Friday’s so far this year of lockdown of #JamaMasjid by imposing curfew & restrictions barring Muslims from offering Juma prayers there! These repressive measures will only strengthen our r solve to freedom not weaken us!,” Mirwaiz tweeted with a poetry in Urdu language.
A railway official said “We have suspended all trains between Srinagar-Budgam-in central Kashmir to Baramulla in north Kashmir today.”
Peaceful protest rallies amid shutdown were organized by locals under different banners across Kashmir Valley. Peaceful protests in support of Article 35A were staged in Srinagar, Kangan, Ganderbal, Budgam, Baramulla and other parts of Valley.
Besides Srinagar, unprecedented shutdown was observed in Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Tral, Awantipora, Pampore, Beerwah, Magam, Khansahab, Khag, Kangan, Tangmarg, Pakharpora and other parts of Valley.
All Kashmir Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association staged a peaceful protest against the attempts to abrogate the Article 35-A. The protesting drivers demanded the dismissal of the petition instead of adjourning it.
Meanwhile unprecedented shutdown in parts of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal also hit normal life for the second consecutive day. Traffic was off the roads, business establishments and educational institutions were closed and protests against tinkering with article 35 A were taken out at most of the places in both Pir Panjab and Chenab valley areas.
Since August 1, there have been repeated protests in the state against any change in Article 35A and Article 370, with the state’s main political parties such as the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party taking to the streets. Senior Congress leaders in the state have also warned of a massive agitation if Article 35A is tweaked.
While Article 370 of the Constitution grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35A disallows people from the rest of India from buying or owning immovable property in the state, settle permanently, or get state government jobs.
