August 28
The Article 35A took Kashmir by storm on Monday as thousands of students from valley wide came out in its defense after a fresh plea filed by BJP Spokesman, Ashwini Updhyay made news on the internet.
Article 35a, that grants special status to Jammu Kashmir has been in the news lately after an NGO challenged it in the apex court of India and demanded its revocation.
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Enraged students came out on the streets and clashes with the Government Forces, dozens of angry students were injured as the supreme court was expected to hear a fresh plea demanding that the special status be removed.
The Hurriyat leaders and the Jammu Kashmir said that the protests were a result of rumour mongering, however the clashes erupted only after authentic news surfaced early morning that a plea challenging Article 35a was being heard on Monday.
The issue regarding 35a has become a part of the daily chorus in Kashmir, it is being debated in normal conversation, on road sides, in buses and cars, in trains and possibly everywhere.
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“I will sell my house to Aishwariya Rai, You sell it to Amitabh Bachan, we will live in a slum,” a Pulwama resident told another friend in a funny tone while they were travelling in a train to Srinagar.
Now, the dispute regarding Article 35a has taken to another level, as people have demanded the defense of it on Wedding cards, which might be the first time in history that a Socio-Political issue has appeared on a wedding card.
The wedding card came from Dragmulla Kupwara where the groom Bilal Ahmad son of Mohammed Yusuf Lone served an invitation with a footnote message “Article 35-A is our identity, defend it.”
ALSO READ: 35A- After Islamabad (Anantnag), Pulwama Erupts
Though many analysts believe that the issue may not evoke an uprising, but many in Kashmir including Farooq Abdullah believe, “this will be greatest uprising, if Article 35a is tinkered with.” The separatist leadership has also warned of a civilian uprising if the Article is removed.
The last time another petition challenging Article 35a was heard, the Kashmir streets remained deserted, people choose to stay indoors with their eyes dotted at the television sets.
ALSO READ: Clashes Erupt in Sopore after Fresh Petition Against 35A
The opinion in valley regarding the removal of Article 35A has been divided too, some believe that BJP is merely using the issue to gain political motives while the other popular opinion is that BJP is now using courts to merge Kashmir into Indian mainland.
The hearing was deferred till 27 August and then till 31 August, separatist leadership was too quick to postpone the Hartal call from 27 to 31 August.
Article 35a prohibits non state subjects of Jammu Kashmir to own any immovable property in Jammu Kashmir.