J&K parties mark Article 370 anniversary as 'black day'; protests curtailed

Srinagar: The ruling NC and Opposition parties, including PDP and Congress, held brief protest marches across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to mark the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 as a "black day". Authorities, however, prevented any planned large-scale protests. Restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar's Lal Chowk, while security forces were deployed outside the offices of major political parties to prevent demonstrations.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah said the people's "wounds" had not healed and they "haven't forgotten". "Seven years... we haven't reconciled far less accepted our current circumstances. My party and I remain committed to reversing all that was done to J&K that took away our rights and threatens our identity," said Abdullah. NC leaders and workers assembled at the party headquarters carrying placards in support of Article 370 and special status. Police stopped them from taking the march outside the party office complex.

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PDP leaders, led by Waheed Para, held a protest in Srinagar's Sonawar area but were also stopped by the police. "The message is loud and clear, no amount of manufactured normalcy or carefully crafted narratives can erase the aspirations of the people of J&K. Their demand for dignity, justice and the restoration of Article 370 remains as strong as ever," said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said August 5 remained a painful reminder of the day when decisions were imposed on J&K, reneging on its constitutional commitments to the people and unilaterally altering the region's structure and status.

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The People's Conference, CPI(M), Apni Party and others also issued statements condemning the abrogation of Article 370. The BJP organised a celebratory bike rally in Srinagar, saying the August 5, 2019 decision had transformed Jammu and Kashmir by strengthening grassroots democracy and exposing parties that had sold false dreams to the people.