Srinagar, Aug 5 (UNI) The National Conference (NC) on Wednesday held a protest in Srinagar against the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its bifurcation into two union Territories on August 5, 2019, even as security was tightened across the Valley.
The protest march was held at the NC’s Central Office and was attended by senior party leaders, legislators and workers.
Addressing reporters after the protest, NC leader and Minister Sakina Itoo said August 5 was a “day of misfortune” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that their rights, guarantees, special status and statehood were taken away on the day.
“On 5th August, our rights, our guarantees, everything that we had was snatched from us. Be it the special status or the statehood, that 5th August was a day of misfortune for all of us,” Itoo said.
She said the NC had consistently raised its voice and held peaceful protests for restoration of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The National Conference always raised its voice for this and kept on protesting peacefully,” she said.
Itoo said the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had passed a resolution seeking restoration of special status, while the Cabinet had also passed a resolution seeking statehood, which had already been sent to the union Government.
“The rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that were snatched should be returned,” she said.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is also planning a demonstration in Srinagar against the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A.
On Tuesday night, PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti led a sit-in protest outside the party office in Srinagar.
Addressing the gathering, Mufti said the events of August 5, 2019, had been preceded by what she described as a “very dark night” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It started with a very dark night on August 4 and that dark night continues,” she said, referring to the detention of several mainstream and separatist political leaders on the night preceding the abrogation of Article 370.
BJP would mark the day with celebratory events at its party headquarters and in districts.
Meanwhile, security arrangements were intensified across Kashmir, particularly in Srinagar and other sensitive areas, to maintain law and order and ensure that normal public life remained unaffected.
Officials said additional deployments of police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other security agencies had been made at sensitive locations.
Security personnel intensified vehicle checking and frisking at several places, while surveillance was stepped up around vital installations, government buildings and other important locations.
Senior police officers were monitoring the situation and security arrangements were reviewed at various levels in view of the protests announced by political parties.
The heightened security comes seven years after the Centre on August 5, 2019, abrogated Article 370, which had accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and subsequently reorganised the erstwhile state into two union Territories.
