Second anniversary of Art 370 rollback: Commemoration, opposition run parallel in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 5: The second anniversary of article 370 abrogation and bifurcation of erstwhile state of J&K saw commemoration and opposition run parallel to each other in Kashmir on Thursday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized an event to celebrate the decision taken by the Government of India two years ago on this day in 2019. The party held rallies in Ananatnag, Srinagar and other parts of Valley to mark the occasion. BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chug addressed a rally in Srinagar and said that a “lot has changed in the past two years as J&K was heading towards peace, progress and development.”
He counted successful BDC and DDC polls stating that it was for the first time that 60 percent people came out to vote. “Today, there is freedom of choice. Youth and people can elected leaders of their choice,” he said, while addressing party workers at Church Lane, Srinagar.
Chug said that BJP has replaced stones with the Rs 50,000 Cr Industrial package while Kashmir is all set to become Tourism capital and its “past tag of being a militancy capital has faded.” Taking a jibe at PAGD that nothing has happened in past two years post abrogation of Article 370, Chug said: “It was for the first time since past many decades, people are feeling free from dynasty rule and are reaping the benefits of real democracy and governance.”
On the other hand, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) organized a protest led by the party president Mehbooba Mufti to oppose the move while People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of J&K political parties organized a meeting today at Member of Parliament and National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah’s residence. PDP leaders carried a protest outside party headquarters here in Srinagar during which slogans were raised by the participating leaders.
On the occasion, Mehbooba told media persons that it is unfortunate that BJP is celebrating the decision across the country while the people in J&K is mourning. “People are being forced to keep their shops open. The auto rickshaw drivers are being asked to ply on the roads as the journalists from outside have reached here to show the normalcy here,” she said.
She added that thousands of people, especially youth are lodged in jails. “There is no way other than initiating a dialogue process with the people of J&K and Pakistan to resolve the issues,” she said.
Mehbooba also said that Jammu and Kashmir has to become the bridge of peace and the decision taken by the government on August 05, 2019 has to be revoked.
Meanwhile, PAGD constituents today held a meeting today at Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence at 11:00 AM.
Sources said that the constituents of the conglomerate including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami and Muzaffar Shah attended the meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours.
Soon after the meeting was held, Tarigami said that the PAGD didn’t want any confrontation. “We will meet the people of Jammu and Ladakh as well. Our only motive is to achieve what we have lost,” he said. Meanwhile, a spontaneous partial shutdown was observed across Kashmir including Srinagar as many markets remained shut while thin movement of public transport was seen on the roads. Security had been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident on the occasion of second anniversary of Article 370 roll back.