Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a day of heightened political activity under an unprecedented security blanket on Wednesday as the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 was marked by sharply contrasting narratives, with opposition parties observing it as a “Black Day” while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described it as a landmark moment in the country’s constitutional history.
Authorities enforced stringent security measures across the Kashmir Valley, particularly in Srinagar, where additional deployments of police and Central Armed Police Forces were made at major intersections, public squares and sensitive installations. Security checkpoints were intensified from the International Border and the Line of Control to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, while surveillance was stepped up across urban centres.
Police sources said no permission had been granted for protests, demonstrations, rallies or public gatherings after various political parties sought to observe August 5 as a protest day. They maintained that adequate deployments had been made to preserve law and order and warned that anyone attempting to organise or participate in unauthorised protests could face legal action.
The restrictions transformed parts of Srinagar, particularly the city centre at Lal Chowk, into a heavily guarded zone with limited public movement witnessed during the morning hours.
Despite the restrictions, leaders and workers of the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and several other political organizations attempted to register their protest against the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019.
At the National Conference headquarters, Nawa-i-Subha, party leaders assembled to reiterate their opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A. The party simultaneously launched an online campaign, declaring that its position on the constitutional changes remained unchanged.
“Our stand remains unchanged: We do not accept the decisions of 5 August 2019,” the party said in an official social media post.
Education Minister Sakina Itoo, while participating in the NC’s programme, described August 5 as a “Black Day” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She alleged that the constitutional changes deprived the people of their constitutional guarantees, statehood, land and employment protections.
Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo told reporters that August 5 had taken away rights and constitutional safeguards and reiterated her party’s demand for the restoration of statehood and constitutional protections.
National Conference chief spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar also termed the events of August 5, 2019, “a permanent scar on our democratic history,” alleging that the constitutional changes were carried out against the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the downgrading of the erstwhile state into a Union Territory had undermined its dignity but asserted that the struggle for restoration of democratic and constitutional rights would continue.
The Peoples Democratic Party also observed the anniversary through protests and political programmes wherever possible. Several PDP leaders alleged that police prevented party workers from reaching protest venues and detained activists in different districts.
PDP claimed that several party leaders from Ganderbal were detained and prevented from participating in what the party described as peaceful demonstrations against the abrogation of Article 370. According to the PDP, such actions reflected an attempt to suppress democratic political expression.
While opposition parties accused the administration of curbing peaceful political activity, police maintained that the restrictions were preventive measures intended to ensure peace and prevent any disruption to public order.
The political divide was equally visible online, where leaders used social media to present sharply different interpretations of August 5.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled his participation in Parliament during the passage of the legislation abrogating Article 370, describing it as a historic privilege and sharing memories of the parliamentary debate held in August 2019.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma rejected the opposition’s observance of “Black Day” and criticised the National Conference and PDP for their stand on Article 370. Sharma argued that the constitutional changes had become a settled reality and maintained that the issue of restoration of statehood would be decided by Parliament. He also rejected demands for a separate Jammu state, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir constituted one political unit.
Amid the competing political narratives, independent voices also questioned the fragmented nature of the opposition’s response. Social activist and former PDP keader, Nayema Mehjoor remarked that while several parties organized protests, seminars and online campaigns, they did so separately, reflecting political divisions rather than unity. She argued that the people expected a collective political response instead of fragmented demonstrations.
The sixth anniversary of the constitutional changes thus unfolded under extraordinary security arrangements, restricted political activity and competing narratives over the legacy of August 5. While opposition parties renewed their demand for restoration of constitutional guarantees and statehood, the BJP reiterated that the decisions taken in 2019 had strengthened national integration and represented a permanent constitutional transformation. [KNT]
