Article 35-A: Kashmir leaders send Arunachal alert

The BJP-ruled Arunachal Pradesh has been on the boil since last Thursday last over the recommendation of a committee to grant permanent residency certificates (PRC) to six communities that are not part of the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes list.

Violence broke out in the capital city on Friday during a 48-hour strike against reports of the state’s decision to grant Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) to non-Arunachali citizens.

The protesters, who stood against the issue of PRC to Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (APST) of Namsai and Chanaglang, burnt government vehicles and bus stops at Itanagar.

As a petition challenging the validity of Article 35-A is scheduled to come up in the Supreme Court soon, Omar Abdullah, the National Conference leader and a committed nationalist has warned about the consequences.

While speaking to his party workers on Monday, Omar Abdullah stated that “They have set Arunachal on fire today because they have tinkered with their permanent residence certificate, the one which we also have here.”

He further added that “I am not issuing a threat. Media will run a hashtag today that Omar is threatening India but I am stating a reality. As a responsible citizen, it is my duty to warn you.”

Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister took to Twitter and said: “Those frothing at the mouth and calling for its removal should not blame Kashmiris for the developments that will follow such a hare-brained decision.”

The separatist Joint Resistance Leadership and Hizb operational chief Riyaz Naikoo have warned of an agitation. The Hizb chief said non-Kashmiris would be asked to leave if Article 35-A was tampered with.