by Amreen Ahmad

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 and 35-A in Jammu  and Kashmir. BJP on Saturday highlighted how the regions had flourished and become more peaceful. While opposition parties staged protests demanding restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre had revoked Article 370 – which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and granted on it the power to have a separate constitution, a state flag and autonomy of internal administration — and bifurcated the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The BJP celebrated the fourth anniversary on Saturday by holding a public meeting in Srinagar and highlighting the change in Jammu and Kashmir. State party general secretary Ashok Koul said, “There used to be shutdowns for the most part of the year in the Kashmir Valley, but now, there are no strikes. During an event in Srinagar, J&K L-G Manoj Sinha said the biggest change after the abrogation of Article 370 was that the common people of J&K are living according to their own wish. Meanwhile, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the PDP staged  separate protest in Jammu to mark the day. Congress members led by the party’s J&K chief, Vikar Rasool Wani, held a demonstration at Shaheedi Chowk, demanding restoration of J&K’s statehood, protection of land rights and 100% reservation for locals in jobs. “We are observing August 5 as a ‘black day’ prosperity, and model state. The reality is that the people are suffering due to economic distress and high inflation while our health and education sectors are in shambles,” the J&K Congress president said.