• BJP hails post-2019 reforms, development and constitutional integration
• Opposition observes August 5 as ‘Black Day’, seeks restoration of statehood
• Rallies, protests and political messaging mark seventh anniversary across J&K
Srinaga: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed contrasting political narratives on Wednesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A as a milestone in the Union Territory’s transformation, while opposition parties observed the day as a “Black Day” and renewed their demand for restoration of statehood and constitutional rights.
The BJP organised celebrations, Tiranga rallies and public meetings across Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting what it described as the achievements of the past seven years following the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019.
Addressing a meeting of senior party leaders in Jammu, BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said the decision taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had strengthened national unity and ensured Jammu and Kashmir’s complete constitutional integration with the rest of the country.
He said the move fulfilled the party’s long-standing commitment to “One Nation, One Constitution” and had paved the way for transparent governance, improved infrastructure, stronger democratic institutions and the extension of Central laws and welfare schemes to every section of society.
In Srinagar, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul led celebrations at the party headquarters in Jawahar Nagar, where party workers cut a commemorative cake. A motorcycle rally proposed by BJP youth workers from Pantha Chowk to Lal Chowk was diverted to the party office after police did not permit it to proceed towards the city centre.
In Anantnag, BJP workers organised a Tiranga rally, with senior leader Altaf Thakur describing August 5 as a landmark day that ended the system of “two constitutions and two flags” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the ruling party National Conference (NC) and Congress organised separate protest demonstrations in Srinagar, Jammu, New Delhi and district headquarters across the Union Territory, observing the anniversary as a “Black Day.”
In Srinagar, heavy deployment of police and security personnel prevented the National Conference’s protest march from proceeding towards Lal Chowk. The party also alleged that several senior leaders were placed under house arrest and prevented from reaching the party headquarters.
The protest was led by NC General Secretary and MLA KhanyarAli Mohammad Sagar and attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Cabinet Ministers SakeenaItoo and Javed Ahmad Dar, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Provincial President Advocate Showkat Ahmad Mir, several legislators and senior party functionaries.
Protesters carried placards reading “Restore Jammu and Kashmir’s Special Status,” “Restore Constitutional and Democratic Rights,” and “Restore Full Statehood.”
Following the protest, NC leaders held a meeting at the party headquarters, where they reiterated that the restoration of statehood and constitutional rights remained the party’s foremost political objective.
Party leaders alleged that the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, had deprived the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their constitutional and democratic rights. They maintained that the National Conference would continue its campaign through democratic, legal and peaceful means and asserted that restrictions, detentions and police action would not deter the party from pursuing its demands.
In New Delhi, National Conference Members of Parliament, including Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi, joined leaders of the INDIA bloc in a protest within the Parliament complex, seeking restoration of statehood and democratic rights for Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress leaders also organised demonstrations in Jammu, reiterating their demand for the restoration of full statehood and accusing the Centre of weakening democratic institutions in the Union Territory.
People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone criticised the August 5, 2019 decision, reiterating his party’s opposition to the constitutional changes.
The anniversary also coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message describing the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A as the beginning of a “decisive new chapter” in the history of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Prime Minister said the region had witnessed major progress in infrastructure, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship and sports over the past seven years, while women and marginalised communities had benefited from the full application of the Constitution of India.
Security arrangements remained heightened across Jammu and Kashmir throughout the day, with additional deployments at sensitive locations and restrictions imposed on political marches in several areas.
