<p>Normal life in Kashmir came to a halt today due to a separatists-sponsored strike against the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution, which they termed as a move to change the demography of the Muslim- majority Jammu and Kashmir.<br /><br />Article 35A of the Constitution defines the residency laws in Jammu and Kashmir and bars outsiders from buying any immovable property or applying for jobs in the state government.<br /><br />Schools, colleges, shops, business establishments and private offices remained closed, officials said, adding that attendance in most government offices was very thin.<br /><br />Buses stayed off the roads in most parts of Kashmir, while a few private vehicles could be seen plying, the officials said.<br /><br />Authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of people in five police station areas -- Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Nowhatta and Rainawari, apprehending violent protests.<br /><br />The separatist camp, including both hardlne and moderate factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), called for the complete shutdown.<br /><br />They said the plea against Article 35A was part of plans to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Muslim majority state.<br /><br />The separatists said the strike was also against the "continuous killing of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian forces".<br /><br />The Supreme Court had last month asked the Centre to file a reply within three weeks to a writ petition filed by an NGO seeking that Article 35A be struck down.<br /><br />The plea said the state government, under the guise of Article 35A and Article 370, which grants special autonomous status to the state, has been discriminating against non- residents who are debarred from buying properties, getting a government job or voting in the local elections. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Normal life in Kashmir came to a halt today due to a separatists-sponsored strike against the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution, which they termed as a move to change the demography of the Muslim- majority Jammu and Kashmir.<br /><br />Article 35A of the Constitution defines the residency laws in Jammu and Kashmir and bars outsiders from buying any immovable property or applying for jobs in the state government.<br /><br />Schools, colleges, shops, business establishments and private offices remained closed, officials said, adding that attendance in most government offices was very thin.<br /><br />Buses stayed off the roads in most parts of Kashmir, while a few private vehicles could be seen plying, the officials said.<br /><br />Authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of people in five police station areas -- Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Nowhatta and Rainawari, apprehending violent protests.<br /><br />The separatist camp, including both hardlne and moderate factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), called for the complete shutdown.<br /><br />They said the plea against Article 35A was part of plans to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Muslim majority state.<br /><br />The separatists said the strike was also against the "continuous killing of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian forces".<br /><br />The Supreme Court had last month asked the Centre to file a reply within three weeks to a writ petition filed by an NGO seeking that Article 35A be struck down.<br /><br />The plea said the state government, under the guise of Article 35A and Article 370, which grants special autonomous status to the state, has been discriminating against non- residents who are debarred from buying properties, getting a government job or voting in the local elections. <br /><br /></p>