NC, BJP Stage Rival Protests Over Governance, Statehood

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)

• NC seeks restoration of statehood, constitutional guarantees; BJP targets Omar govt over jobs, power tariffs, development

• Police stop both parties' marches towards BJP headquarters, Civil Secretariat in Srinagar

Srinagar- The ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition BJP took their political battle to the streets of Srinagar on Wednesday, with the NC demanding restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP targeted the Omar Abdullah-led government over unemployment, electricity tariffs, development and alleged governance failures.

NC Protesters Stopped Near Rajbagh

The NC protest began at Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh, where ministers, legislators, senior leaders and workers assembled before marching towards the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar. Police stopped the procession near Rajbagh Police Station and prevented the protesters from proceeding further. Some protesters were also taken into preventive custody.

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The NC accused the administration of restricting its protest while allowing the BJP to demonstrate in Lal Chowk.

“The JKNC's peaceful protest was stopped from moving forward. People were prevented from joining, and elected representatives were mishandled. Yet, when the BJP held a protest outside the Secretariat, it was allowed to proceed. What a shame!” the party said on X.

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Speaking to reporters, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the protest was aimed at reminding the BJP-led Centre of commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We only want to remind the BJP leadership in Delhi that the promises you made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be fulfilled. The time has now come,” Sadiq said.

He said the demands included restoration of statehood, constitutional guarantees and rationalisation of reservation for youth.

“Where is statehood? It has been two years since the elections. The time has come to fulfil the promise made to us,” Sadiq said.

Cabinet Minister and NC leader Sakina Itoo said the party would continue its peaceful struggle.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir chose it, and they can choose any day. For us, every day is a day of protest, and every day we will peacefully demand, at every level and on every platform, that our rights be restored,” she said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani said the NC had been waiting for two years for key commitments to be fulfilled. He also raised the issue of reservation rationalisation, saying the Cabinet had approved the matter and forwarded it to the Lieutenant Governor, but a decision was still awaited.

Read Also NC Protest Was 'Brutally Repressed': CM Omar Kashmir's Changing Equation

NC MP Choudhary Ramzan said the protest was aimed at reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of what he termed their“unfulfilled promises”.

“We are reminding the PM and HM of their unfulfilled promises. We want them to remember their promises, including restoration of statehood and constitutional rights,” he said.

BJP Targets Omar Govt Over Governance

Meanwhile, the BJP staged its own protest against the NC-led government, with hundreds of leaders and workers assembling near the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and marched towards the Civil Secretariat but were stopped by police near Hari Singh High Street. The area was barricaded and security forces were deployed in strength.

BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma accused the government of failing to deliver on development and said it should either work during the remaining three years of its term or step down.

“What can be expected from such a Chief Minister? In the two years that have passed, the development that should have taken place under his leadership has not happened,” Sharma said.

Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma said the protest reflected public anger over electricity, water, roads and unemployment.

“This is a reflection of the failures of the government, which you are seeing on the streets today,” he said.

The BJP also accused the government of failing to provide employment opportunities and levelled allegations regarding recruitment and appointments.

Sunil Sharma targeted Omar Abdullah over promises made by the NC during the Assembly elections, including commitments relating to Article 370, free electricity and jobs. He challenged the Chief Minister to resign from his Ganderbal Assembly seat and seek a fresh mandate specifically on the issue of statehood.

“If Omar Abdullah has even a little bit of dignity left, then come and fight the elections on statehood and resign from Ganderbal,” he said.

Sat Sharma also criticised the government over its response to security-related issues and alleged that the Centre was being blamed whenever an incident occurred in Jammu and Kashmir.

PDP Calls NC-BJP Protests a 'Fixed Match'

The rival protests also drew criticism from the People's Democratic Party.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti accused the police of adopting double standards, alleging that the same police that restricts PDP protests had facilitated the NC and BJP demonstrations.

PDP MLA Waheed Para described the NC-BJP protests as a“fixed” match and questioned the political parties' approach amid unemployment and governance concerns.

“With governance failing in J&K and unemployment rising, they seem to be playing a fixed match with the people who voted for them. But people aren't spectators, they remember,” Para said.

He questioned why an elected government had itself taken to the streets to seek solutions to issues confronting the people.

The political activity was not confined to Srinagar. In Jammu, dozens of NC workers were detained while attempting to march towards the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar, demanding restoration of statehood.

Led by NC Jammu provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, the workers assembled at Trikuta Nagar market and proceeded towards the BJP office before being stopped by police. Protesters attempted to cross the barricades and were subsequently detained.

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