SRINAGAR: Authorities have tightened security across Jammu and Kashmir on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, with the National Conference, PDP and other parties planning protests, while the BJP is set to hold celebratory events.
Security has been intensified, particularly in Srinagar's Lal Chowk, where police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gear have been deployed to prevent any law and order issues.
The security bandobast across the UT has been beefed up with increased deployment of security personnel and intensified patrolling.
As a precautionary measure, authorities today suspended the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, and no fresh convoys of pilgrims were allowed from Jammu today.
The tight security arrangements have been put in place as the ruling National Conference and opposition PDP have announced of holding protests to mark the seventh anniversary of abrogation of Article 370.
On August 5, 2019, centre scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status and special privileges to J&K residents, and downgraded and bifurcated the erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories --- Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).
NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said the peaceful protest marches will be held at all district headquarters of the party including in Srinagar.
He said party leaders and legislators will participate in the protest marches.
“The events of August 5, 2019 are a permanent scar on our democratic history. That day saw the detention of J&K’s true representatives and the unilateral stripping of our special provisions, all carried out against the will of the people. Our dignity was crushed. We were demeaned and disrespected and our great state was unjustly downgraded to a UT. Yet our resolve to fight for restoration of our rights will persist,” Dar said in a post on X today.
The opposition PDP has also announced district-level protests across the Union Territory.
"As decided by the PDP president during meeting with senior party leaders, MLAs, district presidents of parent, women and youth wings, constituency incharges, zonal presidents, zonal bodies and office bearers, all party functionaries are directed to ensure active participation in the district level protests across Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 in support of restoration of Article 370 and release of political prisoners,” a party spokesman said.
The PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday late-night staged a protest against Article 370 abrogation and said people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue their struggle for restoration of Articles 370 and 35A.
She said PDP won't remain silent and would continue its agitation till the constitutional provisions of Articles 370 and 35A were restored and the Kashmir issue resolved peacefully.
"This is the issue of our identity. We will not remain silent and will continue our peaceful struggle," she said.
Claiming that abrogation of Article 370 remains unacceptable to people of Kashmir, she said, "Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an open jail. People are silent, frightened and intimidated. But no Kashmiri can accept the end of Article 370 because it protects our identity, our land and our jobs. We will fight and struggle for it till our last breath".
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) of jailed MP Er Rashid has also announced that the party will observe August 5 as “black day” to mark the anniversary of Article 370 abrogation.
The AIP spokesperson Inam-un-Nabi said Er Rashid would attend Parliament dressed in black as a symbolic protest and would observe a day-long hunger strike.
The Congress will be holding a protest outside the party headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu today to press for restoration of statehood along with constitutional guarantees for land, jobs and natural resources, a J&K Congress leader said.
In view of protest calls, police has urged public to maintain peace and stated that no protest or rally would be allowed without permission.
Police said any violation of the prescribed legal provisions will be dealt with strictly in accordance with law.
Peoples Conference president and MLA Sajjad Gani Lone in a post on X said, “August 5, 2019 was a brutal coup against the people of J & K. It will be held up with contempt and disdain by the people of J & K, for all times to come.”
“The day of disempowerment of the people of J & K. When everything was taken away. Article 370, Article 35 A. And to add salt to the wounds, J & K was relegated to a UT. I hope a day will come when people of India will understand that these were promises made to the people of J & K on the eve of accession. And gradually all the promises were reversed. And whatever little was left for the people of J & K to cling on to, was brutally taken away on August 5, 2019,” he said.
“Hope for the day when the people of J & K will be empowered again as matter of right and not as a matter of charity,” added Lone.
Meanwhile, BJP will be organizing celebratory functions in Srinagar and Jammu today to celebrate the Article 370 abrogation.
BJP spokesperson Advocate Purnima Sharma hailed the abrogation of Article 370 as a historic step that ensured constitutional equality, social justice and complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.
“Constitution of India became fully applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, giving its citizens the same fundamental rights and constitutional safeguards available across the country,” she said.
J&K Lt Governor Governor Manoj Sinha will distribute appointment letters to kins of militancy victims at SKICC in Srinagar today.
