Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti alleged that leaders of her party PDP were being detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Article 370 abrogation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday stated that the Srinagar administration has denied the party permission to hold an event to mark the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti also alleged that leaders of her party were being detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the eve of the anniversary.
On August 5, 2019, the Union government abrogated provisions of Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Constitution, which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into Union territories — Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh.
“Why is @JmuKmrPolice detaining PDP leaders on the eve of 5th August? Arif Laigroo has been taken by the police in this video. BJP is given a free run to carry out the tamasha of celebrating illegal abrogation of Article 370 in Srinagar. All this is being done to hoodwink the public opinion in the country. Just goes on to expose the facade of normalcy – a fake narrative to justify their illegal actions,” Mehbooba said in a tweet as she posted the video which purportedly shows a PDP leader being taken away in a police vehicle.
Earlier, the PDP had sought permission to hold a seminar or discussion with the general public on Saturday on the abrogation of Articles 370 and Article 35A, PTI reported.
The party said it had invited like-minded parties from Kashmir for the programme that was planned to be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park near the PDP headquarters.
“Our representative was told around 5 PM on 4th August 2023 that the sought permission is declined without assigning any reason,” a PDP spokesman said, as quoted by PTI.
As per PTI’s report, the party member claimed that while the PDP was denied the permission, a request by BJP to hold an event at Jawahar Nagar Park and later a rally from Nehru Park to the SKICC to “celebrate” the abrogation of the two Articles has been allowed.
“The dual and dubious approach of the administration is strongly condemned by us and this repeatedly vindicates our stand the administration and country both are run not as per rules or constitution, but by the political agenda set by BJP,” the spokesman said.
