Srinagar: The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Monday said that the protests against tinkering with Article 35-A will continue as the Supreme Court (SC) has only deferred the hearing of the plea seeking abrogation of the act and not dismissed it.

“…as the hearing of the case regarding the hereditary state subject law of J&K has been simply deferred till last week of August by the SC, when the Amarnath Yatra ends, the protest programs against tinkering with the law will continue as leadership deliberates upon it,” a statement issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) — comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik – said here.

On the contrary, the JRL said that deferment of the case by a few weeks is an indication about the intentions of the court which entertained these mischievous petitions backed by the RSS, as part of RSS’s well known agenda on J&K.

The JRL said that a strict vigil will be maintained on the situation as they will continue to devise and follow a collective strategy in consultation with all segments of society including trader’s lawyer’s civil society members, transporters and others.

Meanwhile, the JRL lauded the entire people of J&K from all regions and religions for their unity and exemplary courage in defending this law which is fundamental to our existence as a nation.

“This law is directly linked to the disputed status of the entire state of J&K as people of the state are yet to exercise their right to self- determination guaranteed by the UN to decide their permanent dispensation as a nation. The mischievous move to remove this provision, is clearly aimed at undoing that possibility by changing the demographic nature of the state and settling non-residents here and hence undermining the conflict and its resolution,” it added.

Meanwhile, normal life remained crippled for the second successive day as shop and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in Kashmir valley due to a two-day strike called by separatists till Monday to protest alleged attempts being made to abrogate Article 35-A.

However, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of the case till the week starting from August 27. A number of writ petitions had been filed challenging Article 35 A, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state. The Article provides special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of the state.