The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intended to hold a public rally on August 5 on the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. The Mehbooba Mufti-led party has also invited "like-minded" parties to join the rally.
Speaking to the media, PDP leader Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo said that the BJP has declared plans to hold a marathon in Srinagar to commemorate the repeal of Article 370, for which the district administration has granted them permission.
PDP to hold rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar
"The PDP plans to hold a public programme on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, for which other like-minded political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are invited to participate," Tramboo said. "We also want to express ourselves for which we hope that permission will be given to us for a peaceful programme," he added.
PDP seeks permission from Srinagar DM
Tramboo said the party has sought permission from the District Magistrate of Srinagar for the event. "If permission is not granted, the matter will be taken up by the jurists during the ongoing hearing on Article 370," he said.
The PDP leader further said that the party is working hard within the Constitutional limits for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. “We are happy that the Supreme Court has started regular hearings and we are hopeful of getting justice,” he added.
Abrogation of Article 370
It should be mentioned here that the Centre decided to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two union territories on August 5, 2019.
Several petitions challenging the Centre's decision to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split J-K into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019. By abrogating Article 370, the Central government had revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Wednesday (August 2) commenced hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre's August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370.
(With PTI inputs)
