Srinagar, Sep 2: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Wednesday staged a protest in Srinagar demanding restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards for Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a counter-protest by the BJP, which accused the NC-led government of failing to deliver on development and sought accountability over the recent power tariff hike.
NC workers marched towards the BJP headquarters, raising slogans and carrying placards demanding restoration of J&K’s statehood and fulfilment of commitments made by the Centre following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
NC chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq said the protest was aimed at reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central leadership of commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We only want to remind the BJP leadership in Delhi that the promises you made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be fulfilled. The time has now come,” Sadiq told reporters on the sidelines of the protest.
He said the demonstration was not directed against the BJP’s local leadership but was intended to convey the party’s demands to the Centre.
“We have nothing against the BJP’s local leadership. We want to remind Prime Minister Modi and the central leadership of the commitments made before the Supreme Court. We have come here to seek fulfilment of those promises,” he said.
Sadiq said the NC’s demands included restoration of statehood, constitutional safeguards and measures concerning reservation and employment for the youth.
“It is not only about constitutional guarantees and special status, but also about statehood and reservation for our children. Something must be done for the youth today,” he said.
NC MP Choudhary Ramzan said the party would continue to raise the issue until the Centre fulfilled its commitments.
“We are reminding the PM and HM of their unfulfilled promises. We want them to remember their promises, including restoration of statehood and constitutional rights,” Ramzan said.
He said the NC would continue to hold demonstrations from time to time to press for its demands.
“This protest will continue from time to time. We will keep reminding them until the promises are fulfilled,” he said.
BJP holds counter-protest
The BJP held a counter-protest in Srinagar, with party workers and supporters gathering at Lal Chowk. BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma targeted the NC-led government over governance, development and the recent power tariff increase.
Sharma said the government should focus on delivering on development commitments instead of blaming the Centre for problems in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The attempts being made to divert people’s attention will not be forgiven by the people,” he said.
He alleged that development had not progressed as it should have during the first two years of the NC-led government and demanded that the administration either deliver during the remaining three years of its term or step down.
“What can be expected from such a Chief Minister? In the two years that have passed, the development that should have taken place under his leadership has not happened,” Sharma said.
He also criticised the government’s political statements on security-related incidents, saying those who give a “clean chit” to Pakistan would not be tolerated by the BJP.
“Whenever an incident takes place in Jammu and Kashmir, they say that the Centre is trying to disturb the situation. Those who directly give a clean chit to Pakistan will never be tolerated by the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.
Sharma claimed that more than 10,000 BJP workers and members of the public had gathered at Lal Chowk for the counter-protest.
The BJP also used the demonstration to raise the issue of the recent power tariff hike, which has drawn criticism from political parties and sections of the public.
Mehbooba alleges ‘double standards’
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the authorities over the protests, alleging “double standards” in the way political demonstrations are handled.
Mufti said the police had stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a peaceful protest while allowing the NC and BJP to hold demonstrations against each other.
Her remarks came as the two parties staged competing protests in Srinagar over political and governance issues.
The NC has made restoration of statehood one of its key political demands, while the BJP has sought to turn the focus towards the performance of the Omar Abdullah government, including issues such as electricity tariffs and development.
The competing demonstrations come amid continued political debate in J&K over the restoration of statehood, constitutional safeguards and the powers and responsibilities of the Jammu and Kashmir’s administration.
