JKCC: Will resist moves to erode Article 370

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, July 19

The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), an amalgam of traders’ bodies and civil society members, today said it will strongly resist all moves and motives aimed at eroding Article 370 that grants special status to the state.

In a meeting of the JKCC, held under the chairmanship of Mohammad Yaseen Khan, the members expressed their anguish and dismay over the “criminal silence and lackadaisical approach” of the state government in contesting the public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the apex court against Article 35A of the Constitution of India.

The JKCC meeting was held a day after the National Conference had expressed serious concern over the decision of the Central government not to file a written response to the PIL.

The Article 35A empowers the Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define “permanent residents” of the state and subsequently empowers the Legislature to provide special rights and privileges to them.

The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee , which had recently been formed to fight against the extension of the goods and services tax, has already threatened an agitation in case the Presidential Order on the new law was not revoked.

The amalgam also claimed that attempts were being to divide the constituents of the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee by involving the state machinery at various levels.

Committee members express anguish 

• In a meeting of the JKCC, held under the chairmanship of Mohammad Yaseen Khan, the members expressed their anguish and dismay over the “criminal silence and lackadaisical approach” of the state government in contesting the public interest litigation filed in the apex court against Article 35A of the Constitution
• The Article 35A empowers the Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define “permanent residents” of the state and subsequently empowers the legislature to provide special rights and privileges to them.