Article 370 Anniversary: Protests and Detentions Mark Seven Years Since Status Revocation

Political Resistance and Public Dissent

Marking the seventh anniversary of the 2019 revocation of Article 370, the ruling National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led widespread street protests across Jammu & Kashmir on August 5, 2026. Demonstrators carried placards demanding the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, characterizing the date as a "Black Day." Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized that the administration has not reconciled with the conversion of the historic state into a Union Territory, stating the party remains committed to reversing the 2019 actions through peaceful means.

Detentions and Security Measures

Heavy security deployments, including CRPF personnel at major hubs like Lal Chowk, monitored the protests under warnings from police regarding unauthorized gatherings. The PDP reported that several of its members were placed under house arrest or detained in police stations to prevent organized mobilization. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti asserted that the government's narrative of normalcy fails to erase local aspirations for justice and dignity, labeling the 2019 decision as a foundational erosion of the Indian Constitution.

Key Facts

• National Conference leaders, including Minister Sakina Itoo and legislator Ahsan Pardesi, led protests at party headquarters and individual constituencies.
• The PDP alleged systemic suppression of its leadership through house arrests and social media bans during the anniversary.
• Regional entities including the J&K Apni Party, Awami Itehad, and J&K Peoples Conference joined the condemnation of the Centre's 2019 decisions.
• CPI(M) legislator M.Y. Tarigami criticized the government for using strong-arm methods to stifle press freedom and political dissent.
• Chief Cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described the date as a painful reminder of unilateral status changes that disempowered the local populace.

Government and BJP Response

In stark contrast to the protests, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the anniversary as a "golden day." BJP leader Ashok Kaul distributed sweets to workers, attributing the end of three decades of stone-pelting and terrorism to the 2019 policy shift. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha marked the occasion by distributing appointment letters to the relatives of terror victims in Srinagar. He maintained that the extension of 890 Central laws to the territory has enhanced transparency and created equal opportunities for residents.