Jammu: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has labeled August 5, 2019, the day when the Indian government revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, as a “black day” for both the region and the Constitution of India. This announcement reflects ongoing discontent among regional parties and the population of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, PDP spokesperson Virendra Singh expressed strong condemnation of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, during a press interaction in Jammu. He stated that the revocation not only deprived the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their constitutional rights but also fragmented the region administratively and demographically.
Singh criticized the central government’s policy inconsistencies, highlighting the recent considerations to grant special status to Bihar while continuing to deny similar privileges to Jammu and Kashmir. He argued that these actions represent a betrayal of the region’s trust and an undermining of its autonomy.
Furthermore, Singh voiced frustrations over unmet promises, such as the introduction of new industry policies that were supposed to stimulate economic growth. “The BJP has looted Jammu and Kashmir,” he claimed, emphasizing that the struggle against these injustices would persist.
The PDP’s declaration and the critical remarks by Singh underline significant political and social challenges in the region, five years after the Indian government’s controversial decision.