Mehbooba, other netas put under ‘house arrest’: PDP | India News

SRINAGAR: Protests and contrasting sentiments were witnessed in J&K on the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the former state into Union territories, reflecting the continuing divide on the decision that stripped its statehood and special status on August 5, 2019.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the J&K administration of “stifling dissent,” stating that party chief Mehbooba Mufti and several politicians were detained in a midnight action Friday and placed under “house arrest” to prevent them from holding a “peaceful” protest. PDP had sought permission from the district magistrate of Srinagar to hold a programme at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, which was denied, as confirmed by the party spokesperson. PDP’s Firdous Tak accused BJP of promoting a false narrative of peace. In contrast, BJP workers in Srinagar held a rally in the Jawahar Nagar municipal area near their party office to mark the fourth year since the abrogation of Article 370. Top leaders, including party general secretary Ashok Kaul, were present at the rally.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh praised the decision taken by the government, stating that it freed J&K from a “historical blunder.” He asserted that the abrogation had a positive impact on the lives of the people and the situation in the region.

Congress leaders held peaceful protests to express their resentment over the abrogation of Article 370 and the conversion of J&K into a Union territory. They demanded the restoration of full statehood and the safeguarding of land and job rights for locals. The protestors raised slogans against the BJP government.
“The promise of large-scale government jobs and opening up the private sector for employment was nothing more than a big bluff and a joke for the educated youth of J&K. On August 5, 2019, J&K lost its identity, rights, and protections that are available to residents in various other states across the country, in one form or another,” PCC president Vikar Rasool Wani said.