On the sixth anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 on Tuesday, Kashmir-centric political parties, including the ruling National Conference, staged protests across the valley demanding restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP took out a ‘Tiranga Rally’ in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to celebrate the occasion.
Photo: SNS
On the sixth anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 on Tuesday, Kashmir-centric political parties, including the ruling National Conference, staged protests across the valley demanding restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP took out a ‘Tiranga Rally’ in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to celebrate the occasion.
The special status of J&K was scrapped by the BJP government on this day in 2019, and the state was bifurcated into two Union territories — J&K and Ladakh.
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Leaders of the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress said the Police did not let them take out processions and hold rallies on what they called as “Black Day” in the history of J&K. They said that the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, who looks after law and order, did not allow them to hold rallies.
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Congress held protests in all 20 districts demanding restoration of statehood to J&K. However, their activists were not allowed to take out protest marches.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP leader, Sunil Sharma, said “August 5th marks a historic milestone for Jammu and Kashmir and India, commemorating the day when J&K formally integrated into India fully. It’s a day of immense pride and celebration, symbolizing unity and progress”.
NC MLA Salman Ali Sagar said “You can lock our offices and confine our leaders, but you cannot imprison an idea”.
Congress Leaders and workers led by PCC President Tariq Hameed Karra were stopped by a heavy contingent of police while marching towards MA Road in Srinagar. They were scheduled to hold a peaceful dharna in support of restoration of complete statehood.
The PDP said that Mehbooba Mufti along with party workers was barred from stepping out of the party office to stage a peaceful protest against the “unilateral and unconstitutional” abrogation of Article 370.
Mehbooba said “August 5 marks a black day not just for Jammu & Kashmir, but for the entire nation. On this day, the Constitution was subverted not by foreign hands, but from within, by a brute majority in the heart of our democracy. The unconstitutional abrogation of J&K’s special status was not an end, it was the beginning of a broader assault on constitutional values”.
Mocking at Mehbooba Mufti, the NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq reacted; “You were the one who brought BJP into the heart of J&K. The only time the BJP ever formed a government here was under your father Mufti Sayeed and then under your chief-ministership with an equal number of BJP ministers sitting in your cabinet”.
Peoples Conference President and MLA, Sajad Lone called August 5 a “brutal reminder of the undermining of democracy and an ugly example of selective targeting.”
Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari described August 5 “a painful reminder of a dark moment in our recent history. On this day in 2019, the sudden and sweeping constitutional changes by the Centre left deep scars on the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. I have said it before, and I will say it again: New Delhi must uphold the dignity and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The Association of Terror Victims in Kashmir hailed 5 August “A historic day of justice and dignity for hundreds of families in Jammu and Kashmir who have suffered unimaginable pain and loss due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism over the last three decades”.
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