Atiya Mujeeb
Srinagar, September 2: Political activity intensified in Srinagar on Wednesday as both the National Conference and the BJP held separate protests over different issues.
National Conference leaders and workers staged a protest near the BJP office, reiterating their demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and raising concerns over the changes introduced after August 2019.
The protest led to a tense situation as NC workers and police personnel came face to face amid heavy security arrangements around the BJP office.
At the same time, BJP leaders and workers gathered at Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk and protested against the Omar Abdullah-led government over unemployment, rising prices, alleged corruption and other public issues.
The BJP protesters are scheduled to march from Ghanta Ghar towards the Civil Secretariat and gherao the building.
Heavy security was deployed along the route from Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk, to the Civil Secretariat to prevent any untoward incident.
The BJP has also criticised the government over the recent electricity tariff hike. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has maintained that the increase was taken due to compulsion.
The National Conference has repeatedly demanded the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. In August, on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated that the party would continue to seek reversal of the administrative and constitutional changes introduced in 2019.
In August 2019, the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370, ending Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status and reorganising the erstwhile state into two Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Omar Abdullah had also participated in a protest in New Delhi in July, where the demand for restoration of statehood was raised.
