Srinagar, Sep 02: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers marched towards the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on Wednesday for a protest against the National Conference-led government over unemployment, electricity tariffs, water supply, roads and alleged failures on the development front.
The BJP workers were later stopped by police near Hari Singh High Street and were not allowed to move ahead as the area was barricaded and security forces were deployed.
As per details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the protesters assembled near the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk carrying placards and raising slogans against the government before marching towards the Civil Secretariat.
The procession proceeded towards the Secretariat, where police intercepted the protesters near Hari Singh High Street and stopped them from moving further.
Security was tightened across Lal Chowk and along the route, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed in strength. Entry points around the Clock Tower were regulated for vehicular movement, while roads leading towards the Secretariat were also restricted as a precautionary measure.
Addressing reporters during the protest, BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma accused the National Conference-led government of failing to deliver on development and said it should either work during the remaining three years of its term or step down.
“What can be expected from such a Chief Minister? In the two years that have passed, the development that should have taken place under his leadership has not happened. People will not forgive the attempts being made to divert their attention,” Sharma said.
Sharma said people had made up their minds and demanded that the government either work during the remaining three years of its term or leave office.
He said more than 10,000 BJP workers and members of the public had gathered at Lal Chowk.
“This is the same historic Lal Chowk where, at one point, the hoisting of the Tricolour was prevented. But today, you can see the atmosphere. Thousands of people have gathered peacefully and have made up their minds that either the government should work or leave office,” he said.
Sharma also targeted the government over its response to security-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the Centre was being blamed whenever an incident occurred.
“Whenever an incident takes place in Jammu and Kashmir, they say that the Centre is trying to disturb the situation. Those who directly give a clean chit to Pakistan will never be tolerated by the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma said the protest reflected public anger over electricity, water, roads and unemployment, particularly among young people.
“This is a reflection of the failures of the government, which you are seeing on the streets today. Those who are yearning for electricity and water, those who are yearning for roads, those who are yearning for a job, especially young people, those young people are told that today they will not get a job from PSC or SSRB,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate employment opportunities to youth and levelled allegations regarding recruitment and appointments.
“Today you ask for a job from a contractor of the National Conference. Today, if you have to appoint a doctor anywhere, he will be the contractor of the National Conference,” he alleged.
Targeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, LoP Sharmaa questioned the promises made by the National Conference during the Assembly elections, including its commitments on Article 370, free electricity and jobs.
“Omar Abdullah had said he would bring back the so-called Article 370. He had said he would give 200 units of electricity for free and 100,000 jobs,” Sharma said.
He also dared Omar Abdullah to resign from his Ganderbal Assembly seat and seek a fresh mandate from the people specifically on the issue of statehood.
“If Omar Abdullah has even a little bit of dignity left, then come and fight the elections on statehood and resign from Ganderbal. If people win the elections and send you to the statehood, then we will bow before you,” he said—(KNO)
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