The ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to the streets in Srinagar on Wednesday. This is the first major political protest after the removal of Article 370 in 2019. Both parties accused each other of not fulfilling the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference accused the Central government of not restoring statehood while the BJP said the National Conference government had failed to fulfill its election promises.
National Conference ministers, MLAs, leaders and workers gathered near Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh. The National Conference had announced to siege the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar demanding restoration of full statehood. The police stopped the protesters before they could move towards the BJP office.
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BJP accused the police of misbehaving with its MLAs. The National Conference wrote on Twitter that its peaceful protest was stopped while the BJP was allowed to protest outside the Secretariat.
Why has National Conference taken to the streets?
National Conference MLA and chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said, 'BJP has not fulfilled its promise of restoring statehood. It has been two years since the elections took place, yet statehood has not been restored. The National Conference will continue the protest until the statehood and constitutional guarantees that were snatched away on 5 August 2019 are not restored.
BJP surrounded the secretariat
BJP leaders and workers gathered near Ghantaghar at Lal Chowk against the Omar Abdullah government. The protesters had planned to gherao the Civil Secretariat but were stopped by the police near Hari Singh High Street. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sunil Sharma said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing difficulties but the government is not doing anything to solve the problems.
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What issues is BJP raising?
BJP says that the National Conference Party government is selling jobs instead of fair recruitment, has avoided holding local body elections, allegations of large-scale corruption and increase in electricity rates have also been made. Sunil Sharma accused Omar Abdullah of only repeating the issue of statehood and not paying attention to the administration. Challenged Omar Abdullah to resign from his seat Ganderbal and contest re-election on the issue of statehood.