Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 4
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti led a candlelight protest in Srinagar on Tuesday on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the revocation of Article 370, accusing the federal government of stripping the region of its constitutional rights.
Police prevented party workers from marching from the PDP headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park to the city centre, prompting Mufti and senior party leaders to stage a sit-in outside the party office.
Carrying India’s national flag and the flag of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said she would remain at the party headquarters overnight because she feared being placed under house arrest or detained ahead of planned protests on August 5.
“There is every possibility that I may be placed under house arrest or detained before tomorrow’s protest,” she told party workers.
India’s parliament revoked the special constitutional status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir on Aug. 5, 2019, and split it into two federally administered territories.
Addressing supporters, Mufti described the night before the constitutional changes as “the darkest night” in Jammu and Kashmir’s history.
She said Articles 370 and 35-A had formed part of India’s Constitution and protected the region’s identity, land and employment rights.
“Our struggle is not merely for statehood but for the restoration of our constitutional rights and dignity,” she said.
Mufti also questioned the government’s claims that security conditions in the region had improved, alleging that civilians continued to face restrictions following militant attacks.
She said the restoration of Article 370 alone would not resolve the broader Kashmir dispute and called for dialogue between India and Pakistan.
During the protest, Mufti alleged that a woman police officer had manhandled her daughter, Iltija Mufti, while party workers were demonstrating peacefully. Police did not immediately comment on the allegation.
She also called for the restoration of cross-Line-of-Control trade and travel links, saying they had benefited communities on both sides of the divided region.
Mufti later left the protest site after addressing party workers.
