Tension Grows Over Possible Scrapping of Article 35A; MHA Deploys Additional 10,000 Troops at Kashmir

Srinagar, July 28, 2019:

On Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs of India (MHA) ordered the deployment of 10,000 paramilitary personnel, ostensibly, for 'counter-insurgency' and for maintaining 'law and order' in the Valley. As news of the deployment of 10,000 troops spread, the people in the Valley assumed that the troops are being deployed to arrest a fallout after the possible scrapping of Article 35A which gives 'special status' to state subject.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Sunday held a meeting of the counter-terrorism grid in Jammu and Kashmir in view of a major terrorist attack threat in the Kashmir Valley.

It may be mentioned that the NSA had gone to Kashmir Valley to meet the top officials of the counter security grid, following which the decision to deploy additional force was taken.

Over 450 companies of CAPF (40,000 troops) are already deployed for the security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and other security-related duties in the Valley at present.

It may be mentioned that Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that allows the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent resident” of the state.

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