Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar saw heightened security on Wednesday morning as the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and National Conference (NC) held separate protests against each other.
“The BJP decided to hold a protest to raise issues concerning the common people of Jammu & Kashmir–a decision announced a month ago. The primary focus of this protest is jobs for the youth. Just look at their timing. Look at how serious they are about the youth.
They had sold off 25,000 jobs to contractors,” said Sharma. The National Conference , led by chief minister Omar Abdullah, announced a march to the BJP office in the union territory to demand the restoration of statehood on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the National Conference has suddenly decided today that it, too, will stage a protest.
Earlier reporting noted: The BJP has announced a march towards the civil secretariat against what it termed the failure of the Omar Abdullah government on all fronts. Meanwhile, the BJP carried out a counter-protest, calling on the Abdullah-led government over the recent electricity price hike and youth unemployment. The march will begin from Lal Chowk and will be led by BJP state president and Member of Parliament (MP) Sat Sharma and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the assembly, Sunil Sharma. Top BJP leaders have already reached Srinagar for the protest. Police later intervened to bring the situation under control.
“The National Conference will peacefully gherao the BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu tomorrow, demanding accountability for the promises made by the Union Government in Parliament and before the Supreme Court of India,” the party wrote in a statement on X. Our demands are clear: constitutional guarantees, restoration of statehood, clearance of the reservation file, and justice for the people of J&K,” an NC spokesperson said.
The National Conference has called for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and accountability for the promises made by the Centre in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. Earlier reporting noted: “The NC will peacefully gherao the BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu, demanding accountability for the promises made by the Union government in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. Earlier reporting noted: Earlier, BJP and Congress workers had a brief clash in Srinagar when BJP leaders and workers held a protest against the Congress outside its office at M A Road.
