NC to hold convention on Article 35A, other issues

Opposition National Conference (NC) today said it would hold a state-level convention of the party here to discuss the issues and challenges being faced by Jammu and Kashmir, including the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution.
The NC today held a high-level meeting of senior functionaries from both provinces of the state - Jammu as well as Kashmir - and reviewed the programme for holding a state-level convention in Srinagar to discuss various challenges being faced by the state, said party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar who chaired the meeting.
The date of the convention was not specified.

Sagar said the convention would deliberate on various current issues and challenges being faced by the state.
The convention will also take stock of party activities and programmes in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and evolve new strategies and initiatives to further strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
"We will also discuss the current onslaught against the state's special status and constitutionally-guaranteed rights," Sagar said.

He said the meeting unanimously appreciated the "clear and forthright" stand taken by the party leadership on various issues especially that of Article 35A, Article 370 and various other issues that directly affect the rights and dignity of the people.

Under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, J&K enjoys special status while Article 35A grants certain special rights and privileges to the citizens of the state.
Article 35A has come under focus recently after a woman challenged it in the Supreme Court, saying it is discriminatory.
"People of J&K, irrespective of religion or region, have unanimously spoken in favour of protecting Article 35A, thereby vindicating the stand of the (NC) party as espoused and articulated by our leadership," the NC leader said.
Sagar said the meeting also took stock of the growth of the party in Jammu and Ladakh regions of the state and lauded the functionaries for continuous outreach and public initiatives at the ground level.

"Every citizen of the state holds equal place in our vision for a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. Those divisive powers, who are trying to fragment and divide the people on various sensitive issues through distortion and lies, will be defeated by the unity shown by our people," the NC general secretary said.