Life normal in Kashmir on Art 370 scrapping anniversary

Markets remain open on third anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 in Srinagar on Friday. — Excelsior/Shakeel
Markets remain open on third anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 in Srinagar on Friday. — Excelsior/Shakeel

Will fight for its restoration; says Farooq, Mehbooba
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 5: For Srinagar’s city centre and other parts of Kashmir, it was business as normal on the third anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories even as People’s Democratic Party and Congress held protests.
The shops and business establishments, schools in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir were open on the third anniversary of abrogation of Article 370. It was business as normal and the day passed off peacefully.
However, scores of leaders and activists of PDP led by its party president, Mehbooba Mufti held a protest against the scrapping of Article 370. They assembled at party headquarters near SK Park in Srinagar and later tried to march outside on the road but were stopped by police.
While addressing party workers on the occasion, she described the Aug 5 as black day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “On this day, our special status, our flag and our Constitution was snatched from us unconstitutionally. This was done by grossly violating Indian constitution which had given us this special status and the flag”, she said.
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The PDP president warned people of the country that BJP is trying to change India from a secular, democratic country to a religious country.
National Conference president and former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that August 5, 2019 unilateral and unconstitutional decisions have become a rallying point for the people of J&K to come together to fight for getting their unique political and cultural identity back.
This, he said, while addressing an unprecedented meet of party functionaries here at Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar. He said that people have been mobilising themselves against subordination, suppression, injustice and bigotry much before India and Pakistan came into being.
“We have never accepted onslaughts on our rights, and our cultural identity. Our peaceful mobilizations also marked our collective detestation for injustice. It is these years of cyclic mobilisations that got embodied into the spirit of National Conference, which as a vibrant platform continues to remain available to generations of Kashmiris, Dogras, Paharis, Gujjars and other classes to give expression to their political and developmental aspirations. The unilateral, unconstitutional and undemocratic decisions of August , 5,2019 have again planted the seeds of political consciousness among our people living across the length and breadth of J&K,” he said.
The Congress also held protest on the occasion at Party headquarters at MA Road in Srinagar but they were not allowed to come out of the office by police who were heavily deployed outside.
Police today refuted reports of house arrest of some National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders terming them as completely baseless.
A police spokesperson said that there is fake news going that some NC and PDP leaders have been placed under house arrest in Gupkar road, this news is completely baseless.
However, the police further said that there are additional personnel deployed on the Gupkar road on certain places in view of certain inputs regarding terror attacks.
“Mehbooba Mufti visited her party headquarters around noon time and Dr Farooq Abdullah visited Hazratbal shrine and his friend in Shalimar in the afternoon,” it read.
The police also advised the media to verify news from authorities before circulating. “Jammu and Kashmir Police is a fully professional police force and is well aware of its duties,” it added.