New Delhi: The counsel retained by National Conference in the Supreme Court of India, Advocate Joydeep Gupta made a comprehensive presentation at the Supreme Court of India today in defense of Article 35-A of the Constitution of India as an intervener to the petition filed challenging the Article after the party’s intervention plea was filed earlier, a press release issued here by the party said.
“Our counsel, Advocate Gupta made an elaborate and effective presentation at the Supreme Court today and the Hon’ble Judges agreed to hear all parties. We are closely monitoring the case and our team of lawyers are leaving no stone unturned to present the constitutional facts and realities in an effective manner. We will continue to defend the State’s special status at every juncture”, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani was quoted as saying by the press release.
The press release further added that equipped with a team of lawyers, representatives of the party led by Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani were camping in New Delhi and following the proceedings of the case closely. NC South Zone President and Former MLC Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri was also camping in New Delhi and was present at the Supreme Court when the hearing came up.
The NC Provincial President said the party would not let its guard down and its legal team and counsels would present the factual and constitutional dimensions of Article 35-A at the Supreme Court on the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile National Conference on Monday held massive protests across the Jammu region against attempts of repealing Article 35A, saying this constitutional proviso, a manifestation of Maharaja Hari Singh’s permanent resident laws of 1927, reflects the special identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The dharna was staged at the historic and heritage Raghunath Mandir Chowk in the heart of the Capital City of Jammu, where protesters, carrying placards for retention of the Article 35A, torched effigies of the BJP. The party workers, led by District National Conference President Jammu Urban, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, took out a procession from the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan and held protests at Raghunath Bazar, raising slogans in favour of Article 35A.
Similar protests were held across the region with National Conference leaders taking the BJP head on for its duplicity and sinister designs of trampling the unique identity of the State, especially the Jammu region, irrespective of religion and caste, which will be hit most in the event of diluting Article 35A.
At Kalakote, the protests were led by former minister Ajay Sadhotra and Central Secretary Th Rachpal Singh. They assailed the BJP for trampling unique and special identity of the State in the Union of India, particularly compromising with the legitimate interests of the Jammu region that will ultimately face the brunt of the affluent business houses and influx of job usurpers of youth in the eventuality of weakening or repealing of Article 35A.
While leading protesters in Kishtwar, former minister Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo pledged that National Conference will fight tooth and nail the forces inimical to special identity of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the people of the State will fight the machinations of weakening the special status of the state.
At Doda, former minister Mr Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy led the protests and accused the BJP of indulging in hate politics. He said the people of Jammu, having unflinching faith in its inclusive ethos, will fight tooth and nail the divisive forces and offer any sacrifice for preserving the special identity of the State.
Provincial President Youth National Conference Mr Ajaz Jan led the protests in Poonch and castigated the BJP for playing dubious role in harming the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by creating wedge in the society on the basis of region and religion.
Qazi Jalal-ud-Din while leading the protests at Inderwal said Jammu region is taking a sigh of relief after the end of nightmarish era of misgovernance, which will go in the annals of history as a bad patch.
In Rajouri, District President Shaffat Khan led the protests and took the BJP head on for indulging in misinformation campaign in a bid to hoodwink public opinion.
NC Women Wing Provincial President Mrs Satwant Kour Dogra addressed the protesters at Samba and said that Jammu being in close vicinity of the northern States and having immense economic potential in pilgrim tourism sector cannot afford its economy to be dominated by the people of other states.
