SRINAGAR — Police on Wednesday stopped a protest march by the National Conference from proceeding towards the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference (NC) ministers, MLAs, leaders and workers assembled near the Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh and tried to march towards the BJP headquarters.
The party had proposed to ‘gherao’ the BJP office to protest against the Centre over the delay in the restoration of statehood to J&K.
However, police stopped the protesters from proceeding towards Jawahar Nagar.
Speaking to reporters, J&K Education Minister Sakina Itoo questioned the intention of the BJP holding a protest from the Lal Chowk to the Civil Secretariat, saying the party remains silent on issues facing the people.
“What kind of an LoP (Sunil Sharma) is he? If he had people’s interests in his heart, he would have talked about reservations,” Itoo said.
NC MLA and chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said Sunil Sharma had no right to talk about resignations or fresh mandate, as restoration of statehood was part of the BJP’s election manifesto.
“Where is statehood? It has been two years since the elections, and he (Sharma) has the cheek to talk about resignation?” Sadiq said.
The BJP on Wednesday held a protest against the J&K government, with Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma daring Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resign from his Ganderbal seat and seek a fresh mandate on the issue of statehood restoration.
Carrying placards, BJP leaders and hundreds of workers assembled near the Clock Tower at Lal Chowk, and raised slogans against the government. — (PTI)