National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah warns of 'uprising' if Article 35A is axed in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: National Conference president and Lok Sabha member Farooq Abdullah on Monday warned of an “uprising” if Article 35A of the Constitution was abrogated.

What is this Article 35A for? Protecting the people of the state, whether from Jammu, Kashmir or Ladakh: Farooq Abdullah pic.twitter.com/W9LDSjaezR

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2017

After all in the Maharaja's time it was done to prevent others coming in to dilute their culture: Farooq Abdullah on Article 35A

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2017

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[caption id=“attachment_2040377” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Farooq Abdullah. AFP[/caption] Speaking to the media at his residence after a meeting of Opposition leaders, he said: “When it will come to that decision, you will see this mass rising. Don’t forget when the Amaranth land row happened in 2008, people rose overnight. “Abrogation of Article 35A will lead to a far greater revolt. I wonder if the government will be able to hold that.” The meeting attended by the National Conference, Congress and others was called by Abdullah to discuss the fallout of any abrogation of Article 35A, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir assembly to define the state’s permanent residents and their privileges. The Article came into force through a presidential order in 1954. It has been challenged in the Supreme Court by an NGO. Those seeking abrogation of Article 35A argue it was not added to the Constitution by following the procedure prescribed for amending the Constitution under Article 368.