Srinagar, August 04, 2018 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, people staged forceful demonstrations in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu region against attempts to scrap Article 35-A of Indian Constitution and the protestors warned the government of India of serious repercussions if the constitutional provision was abrogated.
In Rajouri town, protestors marched towards Gujjar Mandi where a protest demonstration was staged. Several religious and political leaders as well as social activists from the Muslim community were heading the protest. Addressing the protesters, the speakers urged the Government of India to respect the emotions of people of Kashmir and said that the Kashmiris from all walks of life were against the move to tinker with the Article 35-A.
In Darhal, a protest rally was taken out which was led by local religious leaders. The protesters underlined the need to raise objection towards fiddling with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. They said Jammu has remained peaceful till today and people are law abiding but any move to fiddle with special status will lead to severe problems for which the Indian government will be responsible.
In Kotranka and Budhal areas also, protests were held and people raised slogans in favour of special status of the territory. The participants said that present Government of India should give due respect to the special status of the territory like the previous regime did. In Kalakote and Manjakote, people took out a protest rally to demand protection for the special status and show their support for its detention.
Talking to media, Imam-o-Khateeb Markazi Jamia Masjid Thannamandi, Mufti Abdul Rahim Qasmi Zayai said hat Article 35-A is a mark of the special status and endorsed by all the successive governments. He said the public of Peer Panjal region in general and the people of Thannamandi in particular will resist any attempt of fiddling with the Article 35-A.
During all these protests, speakers appealed to people to support the shutdown called for Monday and also appealed to them to maintain peaceful situation during the strike. Religious scholars Syed Ameen Shah Gilani and Syed Shahid Bukhari of Poonch also addressed protest rallies and warned the government of India against fiddling with Article 35-A.
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