6th anniversary of Art 370 abrogation
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Aug 5: The police foiled protest march by the ruling National Conference (NC) in Srinagar against the Centre’s August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 and divide the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, while the patty leaders and activists took out a peaceful protest march in Jammu today.
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Terming it a “black day,” scores of party leaders – including several MLAs – and workers assembled inside the party headquarters, Srinagar. The participants held placards and raised slogans, demanding restoration of the rights of the people of J&K, which, they said, included restoration of Statehood, as promised by the Centre, and Article 370.
However, when protesters attempted to come out of the party office, they were stopped as the main entry and exit gate, were closed by the authorities.
Later, they staged a protest within the office premises. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, attended his office at the Civil Secretariat as usual.
The protesters criticised the BJP-led Central Government, alleging that the 2019 decision was imposed on the people of J&K and continues to “deprive them of basic rights.”
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, NC’s state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the entire party leadership across J&K was protesting today against what he termed the “measures” taken on August 5, 2019.
“Rights of the people of J&K were snatched on that day, and it is a black day for us. We want our rights back – rights that were taken from us without consultation as well as those granted by the Constitution. At the same time, the excesses being committed on us must stop,” he said.
Expressing hope that during the ongoing session of Parliament, a bill for restoration would be introduced, Imran said that after downgrading J&K to a Union Territory, Statehood must now be restored.
“There have been rumours, and the CM has already spoken on them. Parliament will continue till the 21st and we hope that in this session the promise made to the people of J&K is fulfilled,” he said.
MLA Hazratbal Salman Sagar, who also spoke to reporters, said the party is urging the Government to restore the rights and dignity of the people of J&K, noting that “people’s aspirations must be respected.”
“We should get what has been duly promised. This elected Government should not exist for the sake of it – it must have the rights for which the people have voted,” he said.
The Jammu Province unit of the National Conference also observed black day, marking the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile State.
Protest demonstrations were organized at all district headquarters across Jammu Province to denounce the unilateral decision taken by the Government of India on this day in 2019.
In Jammu city, a large protest rally commenced from party’s provincial headquarters, and proceeded towards the city centre. However, the peaceful procession was stopped by the police near Raghunath Mandir, where senior party leaders addressed the gathering.
The protest was led by Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial president Jammu; Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, former Minister and additional general secretary; Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provinciasl secretary Jammu, Vijay Lochan, Chairman SC Cell; Abdul Gani Teli, Chairman OBC Cell; Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary Jammu, Satwant Kour Dogra, Provincial president Women’s Wing Jammu Province and others.
Addressing the gathering, the party leadership described August 5, 2019, as a dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, when the constitutional rights of its people were unilaterally revoked without their consent. They demanded the restoration of Article 370, full Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, and safeguards for land and job rights.
“The decisions taken on August 5, 2019, are unacceptable to us. We will continue our peaceful and democratic struggle for the restoration of our constitutional rights. It was claimed that these decisions would bring development and parity with other states but the reality is starkly different. Unlike other diverse regions of our country, which enjoy their rightful place under India’s federal structure, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be denied its status and rights,” they added.
The leaders emphasized that Jammu, in particular, has suffered due to the prolonged delay in restoring Statehood.
Meanwhile, People’s Conference leader Abdul Gani Vakil termed abrogation of article 370 as biggest political blunder and demanded that Statehood status be restored to J&K without any further delay.
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