Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is technically ruled by two political parties. BJP, that has its Lt Governor and National Conference, that won the elections for Assembly. The UT is under dual control with both the components, trying to score points over each other.
The ruling National Conference and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (which technically is not the Opposition as most of the power lies with New Delhi (BJP), are set for a political face-off in Srinagar city on Wednesday, with the saffron party announcing a march towards the Civil Secretariat and the NC calling for a counter-protest at the BJP headquarters.
The BJP has announced a protest march against the NC-led government, with party leaders and workers scheduled to assemble at Clock Tower, Lal Chowk, in the morning before marching towards the Civil Secretariat via M.A. Road.
The protest will be led by BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma, along with senior party leaders.
The BJP had announced the September 2 protest after a recent organisational meeting in Srinagar, where its leadership accused the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government of failing to fulfil poll promises and raised issues including the increase in electricity tariffs, alleged corruption, unemployment, outsourcing of government jobs and delay in Panchayat and urban local body elections.
The party has said these issues will form the focus of its protest, with LoP Sunil Sharma accusing the government of “misgovernance and corruption” and alleging that outsourcing of recruitment was affecting employment opportunities for youth. The BJP has also questioned the delay in grassroots elections.
Responding to the BJP programme, the NC earlier in the day announced a peaceful counter-protest at BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu.
The NC said that in Srinagar, its workers have been asked to assemble at Gindun Park, near Police Station Rajbagh, in the morning before proceeding as part of the party’s protest programme. The party said its protest would seek accountability from the Union Government over commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court of India.
The ruling party has also listed restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, constitutional guarantees, clearance of the reservation file and justice for the people of J&K among its key demands.
The NC also said the electoral mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir “is not a blank cheque” and must be respected.
