NC protests against amendments to 1954 Constitutional Order

Srinagar, Mar 2: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday took out a protest rally across the state expressing dismay over the union cabinet’s decision of bringing amendments to the constitution applicable to J&K Order of 1954 terming it as a blatant violation of Art 370.
The major protest rally was held at Srinagar which was taken out from party headquarters, Nawa- e- Subha. The rally saw huge participation of party’s Srinagar district functionaries, office bearers and workers. The protesting functionaries and workers held placards saying ‘stop fiddling with Art 370 and Art 35-A’, ‘united to protect our special status’, ‘save Art 35-A and Art 370’.
Among others party’s senior leader former speaker Mubarak Gul, women’s wing president Shamema Firdous, District president Srinagar Peer Afaq, Tanvir Sadiq, Irfan Shah, Showkat Mir, Mushtaq Guroo, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Ahsan Pardesi, Mudasir Shahmiri, G N Tailbali, Kaisar Jalali, YNC functionaries.
While addressing the rally Mubarak Gul said: “The move is detrimental to the interests of state. The decision has bypassed the authority of our elected legislature. Governor administration has no popular mandate to make such recommendations which impact our unique identity. It’s the prerogative of the state legislature to bring about amendments to the state constitution. The recent union cabinet decision is a malafied attempt to remove what remains left of our special position, we strongly condemn it.”
Speaking at the rally Shameema Firdous said, “At the time when the nation is grappling with war rhetoric and our traders and students are being intimidated the decision of union cabinet has come as a bolt out of blue. The decision will prove counterproductive and alienate the people of our troubled state. The erosion of our autonomy is the primary cause of discontent in our state. But let me make it clear we would offer stiff resistance to any such move that is aimed to fiddle with our special status.’
The protesting functionaries maintained that the party is not against granting reservation to specific groups; however such a decision should have been left to elected legislature to decide upon. The protesting functionaries maintained that the governor administration has no moral and political authority to take such decisions by belittling and berating the authority of state’s elected legislature.
Similar protests led by respective district presidents were held across the state. In north Kashmir’s Kupwara Qaisar jamsheed lone led the protest. In Baramulla the protests were led by Javaid Dar, GN Rahi, Dr Sajad Uri, in Bandipura, the protests were led by Mir Ghulam Rasool Naz.
In South Kashmir the protest rallies against the union cabinet’s decision were held at all district headquarters. In Anantnag the protests were led by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, in Kulgam the protest was led by incharge Kulgam constituency Imran Nabi Dar and Abdul Rehman Tantray, in Pulwama GM Mir, GN Ratanpuri, and Javaid Rahim Bhat led the protests.