The Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday foiled a protest march organised by the ruling National Conference in Srinagar against the abrogation of Article 370 and division of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.
The protest was led by the NC’s Kashmir president, Showkat Ahmad Mir, accompanied by some leaders who assembled at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subah, in Srinagar and raised slogans against the Centre’s decision taken on August 5, 2019, and called for the early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The slogans raised included “Black laws are not acceptable”, “The August 5, 2019, decision is not acceptable”, and “Restore Article 370, and 35A”. The protesting lawmakers and party members tried to march towards the city centre, Lal Chowk, but were stopped at the party office complex by the police.
NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar accused police of using force on the leaders who tried to open the gates of the office. He said party leader and current MLA, Salman Sagar, suffered injuries in the melee. “He suffered foot injuries,” Dar said.
“We also wanted to press our demand for the restoration of statehood, as it has been six years now (since Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded to a Union Territory),” he added.
Meanwhile, Sajad Gani Lone, president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, said, “People will never forget August 5, as it serves as a brutal reminder of undermining the democracy. It was an ugly example of selective targeting.”
Expressing similar sentiments in his post on X, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said the date is “a painful reminder of a dark moment in our recent history”.
“August 5 has left deep scars on the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. “As I said earlier and I will say it again: New Delhi, if it wants to have better relations with people, must uphold the dignity and democratic rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The restoration of these rights is not an act of generosity; it is a Constitutional and moral obligation of the Centre,” he further said.
While political leaders have expressed themselves, the local population, especially the youngsters, still suffer as a result of the dual control operational in the region.
No doubt J&K is witnessing development, but that is driven by the Central Government. Unemployment, job crisis, inflation and falling economic prosperity because of terrorism have cast a shadow over the future of a once full-fledged state, which has now been disrespectfully reduced to a centrally administered UT.
Faizan Ahmad, 25, a resident of Srinagar and a nursing graduate, said, “Our future is hanging between the Governor and the CM office.”
Adil (26) and Arshid (27), who dropped out of their colleges to pursue business, said the trade and business sector in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the worst-hit. “We voted for the first time and probably the last time—to see an elected government with statehood to alleviate our concerns. However, neither of them is worried about the common people anymore,” they added.
Mohammad Yousuf (55), a resident of Srinagar and a staunch NC supporter, who has also been taking part in the political campaigning of the party, expressed his frustration with the Central government, “They (Modi and Shah) are playing with the future of Jammu and Kashmir.”
In general, Jammu, as one would expect, supported the decision of abrogation, but not the downgrading of its status to UT. A majority of people, including the pro-Indian politicians in Kashmir, said it was an unconstitutional move and a theft of democratic rights.
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