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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Protests mark sixth anniversary of Art 370 revocation in J&K
Protests and condemnation on Tuesday marked the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. Congress leaders and workers stage during a protest on Tuesday. (PTI) Though Valley-based political parties termed it a 'black day', the Congress held protests in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of statehood. The ruling National Conference and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held protests in Srinagar. In Jammu the protest was led by the working president Raman Bhalla, along with former minister Lal Singh, Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, AICC secretary Shah Nawaz Chaudhary, Rajnish Sharma and several others. The protest was held in front of the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi Bridge. On the sixth anniversary of revocation of Article 370, parties in Jammu and Kashmir staged vociferous protests and called the BJP government's move 'a unilateral and arbitrary decision, which has gone down as black day in the annals of history'. 'It's a black day for us. Not only were our rights snatched six years ago but our state was also divided into two UTs. On the sixth anniversary, we are holding protests in all 20 districts of J&K and demanding the restoration of statehood at the earliest,' J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra said. The National Conference held a protest at its party headquarters in Srinagar against the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A. Party leaders and workers carrying placards raised slogans demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and constitutional rights. A petition filed in the Supreme Court for the restoration of statehood is scheduled to be heard on August 8. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was not allowed to take out a march along with party workers in Srinagar, said: 'August 5 marks a black day not just for Jammu and Kashmir, but also for the entire nation. On this day, the Constitution was subverted not by foreign hands, but from within, by a brute majority in the heart of our democracy. The unconstitutional abrogation of J&K's special status was not an end, it was the beginning of a broader assault on constitutional values,' the former chief minister posted on X. Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone put out a defiant message, calling August 5 a 'brutal reminder of the undermining of democracy and an ugly example of selective targeting'. Reflecting on the day that altered Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional status, he said: 'Whatever little was left from the glories of the past was taken away.' Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, who was the first leader from the Valley to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah after the revocation of Article 370, termed the anniversary 'a painful reminder of our recent history'. 'New Delhi must uphold the dignity and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The restoration of these rights is not an act of generosity, it is a constitutional and moral obligation,' he said, adding the region had gone through a prolonged phase of violence and bloodshed. 'People have suffered immensely over the past decades, and therefore they long for peace, justice, and dignity — fundamental aspirations that can no longer be ignored. This is the right time for New Delhi to initiate a genuine, inclusive, and meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir to address their issues and grievances and move toward a lasting resolution.' Congress will intensify struggle: Raman Bhalla Raman Bhalla lashed out at the BJP government for the betrayal despite repeated promises for early restoration of statehood. 'Six years ago BJP snatched statehood from people and promised early restoration but today is sixth anniversary and it has not been restored despite Supreme Court directions. Congress will intensify the struggle for restoration of complete statehood and 'Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq' movement shall continue till we achieve our goal of full statehood,' he said. Lal Singh cornered BJP for its authoritarian style at the Centre and said 'statehood is our basic right'. 'BJP has destroyed the Dogra identity, status and dignity and insulted Dogra rulers,' he said. 'Our land, jobs and resources are being looted ruthlessly,' he added. NC also held a protest near Raghunath Mandir in the Jammu city and other district headquarters. A large protest rally from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, the party's provincial headquarters, proceeded towards the city centre. The protest was led by provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra besides others. Addressing the gathering, the party leadership described August 5, 2019, as a dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, when the constitutional rights of its people were unilaterally revoked without their consent. 'The decisions taken on August 5, 2019, are unacceptable to us. We will continue our peaceful and democratic struggle for the restoration of our constitutional rights. It was claimed that these decisions would bring development and parity with other states but the reality is starkly different. Unlike other diverse regions of our country, which enjoy their rightful place under India's federal structure, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be denied its status and rights,' said Rattan Lal Gupta.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Political parties hit the streets in J&K for statehood, denounce BJP
Congress, National Conference, and PDP workers on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) hit the streets in J&K, demanding the restoration of the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The protests were held on the sixth anniversary of the revocation of the erstwhile state's special status under Article 370, and its bifurcation into two Union Territories. The three parties, along with Jammu-based All Parties United Morcha (APUM), a group of various social and political parties, observed August 5 as a "black day" in a denunciation of the downgrading of the state in 2019. Pradesh Congress Committee working president Raman Bhalla, along with former Minister Lal Singh and Taranjit Singh Tony, used a crane to garland the statue of the last Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, at Tawi bridge in the heart of the city. "Today's black day protest is part of our intensified campaign under 'Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq' to seek restoration of pride and glory of this historic Dogra state, which was destroyed by the BJP on August 5, 2019," Mr. Bhalla told reporters while leading the protest. The party's J&K chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, said the BJP undermined the democratically elected government and is running the affairs through a "remote control" from Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's office. "The Assembly elections were held on the directions of the Supreme Court last year, but the popular government is not allowed to work. They have lost the elections but are still running the government through the LG office, and as a result of the dual rule, the people are suffering," he said. He said the Supreme Court has directed for restoration of statehood to J&K "as soon as possible," but even after 10 months of the order, the Centre remains reluctant to restore statehood. "Our demand for restoration of full-fledged statehood under 'Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq' will continue to mobilise support and expose the BJP. We are now going for a chain hunger strike from August 9 to 21, hoping that the BJP will see reason and restore statehood to J&K during the ongoing Monsoon session of the parliament," Mr. Sharma said. The Congress staged similar demonstrations at all district headquarters. An attempt by its workers to take out a rally was scuttled in Rajouri by police, who also briefly detained MLA Iftikhar Ahmad and several others. Workers of the ruling National Conference, led by provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, staged a protest outside party headquarters on Residency Road in Jammu. The protesters had to abort their march when police stopped them, and they were forced to return to the party office. PDP workers raised a demonstration outside party headquarters in the Gandhi Nagar area of the city.
United News of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Caste census result of Rahul's struggle: J&K Congress
Jammu, May 2 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday congratulated the Rahul Gandhi and the party leadership over the caste census in the country. A unanimous resolution was adopted in a meeting here at Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters to express gratitude to the Congress leadership, especially Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, for the success of the struggle to pressure the government to concede the demand for a caste census in the Country. The resolution moved by JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma was seconded by working president and former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and former minister Raman Bhalla. The resolution was adopted unanimously by raising of hands and amid slogans in favour of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. JKPCC working president Tara Chand, who presided over the meeting along with Raman Bhalla, said the struggle of Rahul Gandhi has finally yielded results as the BJP-led government accepted the demand raised by the Congress. 'The party demands that the caste census should be completed within a time-frame so that complete benefits reach the common man at the earliest,' the members demanded. Working president Raman Bhalla said the announcement of a caste census was the result of Rahul's struggle. The meeting also asked the party cadres in the border areas to remain in constant touch with the people and the administration in view of the prevailing situation, keeping a close watch on the activities on the border belt post Balakot terror attack. The meeting strongly condemned Pakistan for the unprovoked firing on the border and LoC and reaffirmed the party's decision that it was fully behind the nation and the government to give a befitting response to Pakistan for backing the Pahalgam perpetrators. Earlier a two-minutes silence was observed to mourn the death of veteran Congress leader and former union minister Girija Viyas. UNI VBH PRS
