Jammu, 11 Oct 2023:A multitude of major regional opposition parties in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) converged for a joint sit-in protest in Jammu, articulating their resistance against infringements on fundamental rights and shedding light on other pressing issues beleaguering the citizens, according to a press release by Kashmir Media Service (KMS). The cooperative protest, which witnessed the participation of over a dozen predominant opposition entities and various social organizations, underscored an united stance, desiring the restoration of democracy and voicing collective issues of the general populace, including the demands for revocation of specific governmental orders and employment assurances for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The day-long demonstration, taking place at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu city, observed the participation of key opposition parties including National Conference, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPI-M, Awami National Conference, Panthers Party, Aam Admi Party, JK People Movement, Rashtriya Janta Dal, Shiv Sena, and Akali Dal-A, among others. Notable leaders who graced the protest with their presence comprised IIOJK Congress chapter president Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, CPI-M leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, and senior NC leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, among others.
Leaders addressing the assembly communicated the fundamental objective behind the protest: to champion the restoration of democracy in IIOJK whilst also illuminating other critical issues affecting the public. “We want revocation of orders related to Property Tax, smart meters; employment to unemployed youth, regularisation of all daily wagers in all departments and safeguards of land and employment in favour of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir,” they articulated.
Congress leaders Vikar Rasool Wani and Raman Bhalla expressed the palpable frustration among people, originating from the stringent policies enacted by the current administration and a resultant yearning for early elections. They highlighted the expressed desires of the people, discernible through LAHDC Kargil election results, constituting a clear message for the BJP and its governments, both at the Centre [New Delhi] and in J and K. They emphasized the necessity for the government to hearken to their voice.
CPI-M leader Tarigami characterized the protest as singularly unique, marking a convergence of all major opposition parties and several social organizations, unifying under the demand for the restoration of democracy. He critiqued the New Delhi-installed IIOJK administration for disseminating false promises to the people and stripping them of their constitutional rights. NC leaders emphasized that the BJP, ostensibly using the façade of the Election Commission, feared an electoral defeat.