NC protests for constitutional rights, restoration of Statehood, immediate approval of Reservation Policy

The protesters’ attempt to gherao the BJP office was foiled when a heavy contingent of police and security forces stopped the party’s senior leaders, MPs, MLAs and workers from proceeding beyond Rajbagh Police Station, Srinagar. During the incident, excessive force was used, leaving several leaders and workers injured. Even women leaders, elderly functionaries and workers were not spared, and several persons had to be shifted to hospitals. Several party leaders, MLAs and workers were arrested and kept in custody at Rajbagh Police Station for several hours.

Earlier, as per the scheduled programme, National Conference leaders, MLAs, functionaries and workers had gathered near Gindun Park, Rajbagh. However, most of the workers were stopped before they could reach the gathering point. As the party workers assembled near the park began marching towards the BJP office at Jawahar Nagar under the leadership of General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, a heavy contingent of police and security forces, already deployed near Rajbagh Police Station stopped the rally from proceeding further and resorted to excessive use of force. Every possible measure was adopted to prevent the National Conference from carrying out its peaceful programme.

The protest rally was attended by Additional General Secretary and MP Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo, Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Provincial President Adv Showkat Ahmad Mir; Women’s Wing President and MLA Habba Kadal Shameema Firdous; MLA Eidgah Mubarak Gul; MLA Gurez Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi; MLA Chadoora Ali Mohammad Dar; MLA Poonch Ajaz Jan; MLA Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone; MLA Chanapora Mushtaq Guroo; MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar; MLA Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi; MLA Sonawari Hilal Akbar Lone; MLA Baramulla Javed Hussain Baig; MLA Bijbehara Dr Bashir Veeri, MLA Zainapora Showkat Hussain Ganie; MLA West Anantnag Abdul Majeed Larmi; MLA Pampore Hasnain Masoodi; MLA Rajpora Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir; MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali; MLA Karnah Javed Mirchal; MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah; MLA Khansahib Saif-ud-Din Bhat; MLA Beerwah Dr Mohammad Shafi; MLA Pattan Riyaz Bedar; MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar; MLA Shangus Advocate Riyaz Khan; MLA Kokernag Zaffar Ali Khatana, Political Advisor to VP Mudassar Shahmiri, State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar; Provincial Women’s Wing President Er. Sabiya Qadri; Provincial Youth President Mushtaq Mir; district presidents, constituency in-charges and functionaries of the Youth and Women’s Wings.

Meanwhile, a meeting was also held at the party headquarters, where the police action against the National Conference’s peaceful protest programme was strongly condemned. Party leaders said that, on the one hand, the BJP was allowed to stage a protest in Lal Chowk and was provided full cooperation and support by the police and security forces, while, on the other hand, restrictions were imposed on the National Conference programme. This contradictory approach has raised serious questions regarding the equal application of democratic rights and the constitutional right to peaceful protest.

The party leaders reiterated that the National Conference would continue its struggle for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and democratic rights as well as statehood and would not hesitate to make any sacrifice in this cause.

Meanwhile, J&K National Conference also took out a protest rally in Jammu, registering its protest against the denial of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and democratic rights, the demand for restoration of statehood and the treatment meted out to Jammu and Kashmir.