After Friday prayers hundreds of Kashmiri based Seminary Students organised a massive rally in the Iranian city of Qom to protest against the scrapping of a constitutional provision that granted special status to Indian-administered Kashmir.
Aga Syed Ahmad Shah Moosvi Seminary Student Calling it, the death of Indian democracy and worst phase of tyranny in human history. Ali Moosvi Added that similar protests will be held in other parts of the Iran and organisers planning to continue mobilising people and raising voice internationally till Article 370 Will not be revoked back.
Another Islamic Cleric Aga Syed Muzaffer Madni told in a press statement that, The constitutional provision was the basis of the Muslim-majority state’s accession to the Indian union in 1947 when erstwhile princely states had the choice to join either newly-independent India or Pakistan. The article, which came into effect in 1949, allowed the state to have “limited autonomy” in certain areas and had prevented non-residents from buying any property in the disputed region.
Article 35A was introduced in 1954 to continue the old provisions of the territory regulations under Article 370. It empowered the state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” and provide special rights and privileges to them. Every Kashmiri are well familiar with the agreement of Kashmir with Delhi.
Aga Madni added that the Kashmiri people in 1947 joined India because they thought their Kashmiri identity was important. The Contemporary move in India Parliament is an attack on India’s federal constitution and massive attack on our Cultural and identity.
Talking with Indian Gujrati Seminary Student Faiz Ali Pasheriya Said that We have decided to join the protest because we feel ashamed that how can our government not consult the people of a state about whom it’s made such a big decision. It’s a clear violation of democratic process and is an insult to Indian democracy. We stand with Kashmir on this crucial time with body and Soul.
Moulana Mehraj Maqbool of North Kashmir Baramulla said that we had not been able to speak to our families for an eleventh 11th straight day due to the communication blackout. India claims to be the world’s biggest democracy but the world has today seen what kind of democracy it is. We have not been able to speak to our families for days now and this government doesn’t care about our pain, the trauma we go through.
Revoking Article 370 means loss of our identity as Kashmiris. The way Indian Parlimantarian brought the legislation and the way they got the abrogation of Article 370, it’s an assault on the Indian democracy; it’s an assault on Indian constitution; it’s an assault on the federal principles of a democratic polity. Said President JK Islamic Peace Movement Syed Karar Hashmi