BJP hoists Tricolour in Srinagar

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 5

Even as strict restrictions remained in place today on the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, celebrations to commemorate the stripping of J&K’s special status remained confined to the BJP office and workers here.

A few workers of the BJP Kashmir unit hoisted the Tricolour at the Jawaharnagar party office and distributed sweets. “The abrogation of Article 370 led to the fall of the wall of hatred between Kashmir and the rest of the country. Today, the dream of BJP founder Shama Prasad Mukherji stands fulfilled as there is only ‘Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan and Ek Samidhaan’. Militancy is waning and peace is returning,” said BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur.

However, photographs of BJP workers evoked sharp reactions on social media. “When mediapersons outnumber BJP activists,” wrote one netizen with reference to a video of the party function at Jawaharnagar.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while tweeting photographs of the BJP function said: “BJP displaying its hypocrisy. They can gather & celebrate. The rest of us can’t even meet to discuss what’s happening in J&K.”

Elsewhere, BJP worker Romisa Rafiq hoisted the Tricolour in an empty street on Wednesday morning in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Her photograph went viral on social media, in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts, two BJP workers were seen waving the Tricolour in empty streets.

One video of former BJP worker Mubeena Akhtar from Gulmarg in North Kashmir counting the benefits of Article 370 abrogation also went viral. However, in another video, she tendered an ‘apology’.

Meanwhile, three workers — Subzar Ahmad Paddar, Nisar Wani and Ashiq Palla from South Kashmir — announced their resignation from the BJP. Their resignations came a day after militants shot and injured a sarpanch at Qazigund in South Kashmir. However, Altaf Thakur claimed they were not associated with the party.