ubilant workers of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Thursday celebrated the second anniversary of the Abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A by holding Tiranga rallies and hoisting the national flag across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). At the same time several mainstream politicians in the Kashmir Valley, who continue to remain in a state of denial, observed it as a 'black day' and reiterated their demand for the restoration of statehood.
The Bajrang Dal, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and some social organisations also celebrated the second anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A. The J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) batted strongly for the restoration of statehood to J&K and holding of early assembly elections.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who is also the party affairs in-charge for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh celebrated the historic day with the party workers in Srinagar. He unfurled a 'Tricolor' amid chanting of patriotic slogans by the Kashmir based party workers. Similar events were organised by the party leaders in Anantnag,Bandipora, Baramulla. Addressing party workers in Srinagar Tarun Chugh said, " one of the more significant achievements of the 2019 decision was that it dealt a big blow to the divisive and terrorist forces".
"After many decades, the Pakistan-sponsored militancy seems to be on the back foot. Anti-national feelings among people have been replaced by the ideas of inclusive development and progress", Chugh said.
He also came down heavily on the Gupkar alliance parties for "trying to disrupt the positive narrative in J&K".
In Srinagar, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti took out a protest march from the party's head office near the Sher-e-Kashmir Park.
Shouting slogans against the Centre's August 5, 2019 decision Mufti demanded "resolution of the Kashmir issue". The protesters were, however, stopped by police near GPO and turned back.In Jammu, PDP workers chanted slogans in support of Maharaja Hari Singh, while attempting to take out a protest march.
The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference held a meeting of the party leaders at Nawa-e- Subha under the leadership of party President Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Addressing the meeting Dr Abdullah stated that the unilateral, unconstitutional, and undemocratic decisions are unacceptable to the party as they were two years ago.
The Jammu & Kashmir unit of the Congress party leaders also questioned what has changed for the benefit & betterment of people of Jammu and Kashmir, as J&K has lost its identity, rights and protections available to its residents which are available in various other states in the country too, in one or other form.
Addressing a Press Conference at PCC HQ here today, JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Shri Ravinder Sharma along with senior party leaders asked whether the backbone of militancy has been broken, total number of jobs in Govt. & private sector have increased, big industrial houses have come to J&K, the situation has normalized, KPs can safely return, the gap between hearts and distance from Kashmir and Delhi (Dil ki aur Dilon Ki Doori) has been reduced and what else has been achieved, after two years of the decision, they questioned.