Four years since abrogation of Article 370: BJP hails ‘peaceful, flourishing’ J&K; opposition parties stage protests | India News

NEW DELHI: On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 and 35-A in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP on Saturday highlighted how the region has flourished and become more peaceful, while opposition parties staged protests demanding restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre had revoked Article 370 — which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and conferred on it the power to have a separate constitution, a state flag, and autonomy of internal administration — and bifurcated the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
J&K flourishing: BJP

The BJP celebrated the fourth anniversary on Saturday by holding a public meeting in Srinagar and highlighting the changes in Jammu and Kashmir.
State party general secretary Ashok Koul said, “There used to be shutdowns for the most part of the year in the Kashmir Valley, but now, there are no strikes.
During an event in Srinagar, J&K L-G Manoj Sinha said the biggest change after the abrogation of Article 370 was that the “common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes”.
“Pakistan-sponsored shutdowns by terrorists and separatists, due to which schools, colleges and business establishments used to remain closed for about 150 days a year, have ended. The dreams of the youth of Kashmir have got wings now and in the days to come, their contribution to nation building will not be less than anyone,” Sinha told reporters.
People are suffering, say opposition parties
Meanwhile, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the PDP staged separate protests in Jammu to mark the day.
Congress members led by the party’s J&K chief, Vikar Rasool Wani, held a demonstration at Shaheedi Chowk, demanding restoration of J&K’s statehood, protection of land rights and 100% reservation for locals in jobs.
“We are observing August 5 as ‘black day’ … we demand immediate restoration of statehood along with state subject laws,” Wani told reporters.
“There is no change in Jammu and Kashmir, contrary to the claims of the BJP which had talked about industrial investment, prosperity, and model state. The reality is that the people are suffering due to economic distress and high inflation while our health and education sectors are in shambles,” the J&K Congress president said.
BJP MPs take to social media
Several senior BJP leaders posted on social media about how the revocation of special status had benefitted J&K.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said Article 370 and 35-A were “the father and nurturer of separatism, terrorism, familyism and misrule in Jammu and Kashmir for decades and a blot on our national unity and integrity”.

He added that Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh regions are now “touching new heights of development” due to the “successful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
Union minister for housing Hardeep Singh Puri took to X (formally Twitter) to mark the anniversary and called Article 370 “draconian”. He said the milestone decision was welcomed by the people and brought in an “era of progress and development”.
Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said the abrogation of Article 370 played a pivotal role in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that there has been “a remarkable 170% increase in tourist footfall, setting J&K on the right track toward progress and prosperity”.
Placed under house arrest: Mehbooba Mufti
Members of the PDP staged a protest at Gandhi Nagar in Jammu. They also tried to hold a rally but were stopped by the police.
“The Supreme Court is hearing petitions against abrogation of Article 370 but our protest is to highlight the curbs which have been put in place on the PDP leadership, including Mehbooba Mufti, and at the party headquarters. Democracy is being strangled,” PDP spokesperson Varinder Singh Sonu said.
Earlier in the day, Mehbooba claimed she and some senior PDP leaders were placed under house arrest while several others were detained.

“I’ve been put under house arrest along with other senior PDP leaders today. This comes after a midnight crackdown where scores of my party men are illegally detained in police stations. GOI’s false claims about normalcy to the SC stands exposed by their actions driven by paranoia,” she tweeted.
She said on one hand, giant hoardings calling upon Kashmiris to “celebrate” the abrogation of Article 370 have been put up across Srinagar, whereas brute force is being used to choke the actual sentiment of the people.
BJP lists development projects, progress in J&K
BJP leaders on Saturday held events to showcase how the abrogation of Article 370 ushered in inclusive development in tourism and other sectors.

Over 250 incidents of terror, says AIMIM
Refuting BJP’s claims that J&K has never been more peaceful, All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that “according to media reports, 251 terrorist incidents happened in Jammu and Kashmir from January 2021 till May 2023”.
“Around 100 incidents took place alone in the Valley. What is happening? Three soldiers were killed in South Kashmir recently, why is there no uproar in the country?,” he added.
National Conference office sealed
The National Conference (NC) also said that its party headquarter Nawa-i-Subah was sealed and no one was allowed to go inside.

“True to form and in keeping with the clampdown on mainstream democratic activities organised by parties opposed to 5th Aug 2019, the JKNC office has been sealed by the police. No one is being allowed in or out of the office,” it said in a social media post.
“These steps betray the nervousness of the administration & render hollow their claims regarding great improvements in the last 4 years,” it added.
The police, however, were tight-lipped about the alleged restrictions on NC and PDP leaders.
Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone called August 5 a “sad reminder of the disempowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
“August 5 is a sad day. A sad reminder of the disempowerment of the people of J and K,” he said in a tweet.
SC hearing cases against Article 370
Meanwhile, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has begun hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Constitution bench comprises Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya.
How can a provision (Article 370), which was specifically mentioned as a temporary provision in the Constitution, become permanent after the tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly came to an end in 1957, asked the bench.
The bench contended that Parliament could not have declared itself to be the legislature of Jammu and Kashmir in order to facilitate the abrogation of Article 370 as Article 354 of the Constitution does not authorise such an exercise of power.
(With inputs from agencies)