SRINAGAR, Sep 2: Security was tightened across Srinagar on Wednesday as the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition BJP prepared to hold counter-protests over the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and alleged unfulfilled electoral promises.
Police and security forces were deployed in large numbers around Lal Chowk and Jawahar Nagar ahead of the planned protests. Roads leading to the BJP office in Jawahar Nagar were sealed, while vehicle movement around Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk was restricted, officials said.
The BJP has called on its workers to assemble at Ghanta Ghar before marching towards the Civil Secretariat via Budshah Bridge. The party is protesting against what it termed the Omar Abdullah government’s failure to fulfil commitments made during the 2024 Assembly elections.
The NC, meanwhile, has asked its workers to gather outside Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh and march towards the BJP office. The ruling party plans to gherao BJP headquarters in Jammu and Srinagar, demanding accountability over commitments made by the Union government in Parliament and before the Supreme Court regarding restoration of J&K’s statehood.
The NC’s protest comes in response to the BJP’s Civil Secretariat gherao.
A BJP spokesperson said the party would raise issues including alleged backdoor appointments, job outsourcing, unemployment, corruption and unfulfilled commitments. He said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir were seeking greater transparency in recruitment and more employment opportunities.
The BJP had initially planned the Secretariat gherao for July 20 but postponed it after the NC organised a peaceful sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding restoration of statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision and directed that statehood be restored at the earliest.
