Jammu, July 31 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, at a time when campaign by rightwing Hindu organisations against special status of Jammu and Kashmir has gained momentum, lawyers in Jammu have pitched for strengthening Articles 370 and 35-A.
Articles 370 and 35-A grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir and prohibit non-Kashmiris from acquiring land in the territory. Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party’s communal government in New Delhi is trying to abrogate these constitutional provisions to completely merge Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union and to change the demographic composition of Kashmir by paving way for settling Indian citizens in the territory.
Prominent lawyers affiliated with the Jammu Bar Association held a meeting in Jammu. The speakers appealed for protection of special status of Jammu and Kashmir. In the meeting chaired by former Senior Additional Advocate General, Subash Chander Gupta, prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir was discussed.
Subash Chander Gupta appealed to the masses to remain united and not to be misled by those who are “trying to create wedge among different sections of the society”. He said, “An atmosphere is being created though social media and media with a motive to mislead people about Article 370 and Article 35-A so that special status can be tinkered with.”
He said if anything is to be decided about Jammu and Kashmir, it is to be decided by the Kashmiri people.
Former President of Jammu Bar Association, A V Gupta, also urged for retention of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and said any tinkering with Article 35-A would have “serious repercussions”.
Advocate M R Qureshi highlighted the importance of Article 35-A.
