Article 370 Abrogation Anniversary: Security Heightened in J&K, BJP to Hold Celebratory Rally

Jammu: Security has been beefed up in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on Monday, August 5. A high alert has been sounded across the Union Territory for today.

Moreover, in a message to all security agencies, police have advised them to observe a "dry day" with no movement of security convoys today. The Amarnath Yatra has also been suspended for the day over security concerns.

The advisory for the fifth anniversary has been issued as security agencies apprehend possibility of terror attacks on this day.

Along with the security forces, agencies are also in alert mode, to maintain strict surveillance across the UT and prevent any infiltration or other incidents from Pakistan.

While most political parties in Jammu and Kashmir denounce the reading down of Article 370, the BJP will be holding functions across the union territory to mark the landmark day as abrogation of the special constitutional provision had been a long time election promise of the party.

The Central government had on August 5, 2019 revoked the Article 370 of the Constitution which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union.

BJP to Hold ‘Ekatma Mahatsav’ Rally 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Jammu and Kashmir unit will hold the ‘Ekatma Mahatsav’ rally on Monday to celebrate the anniversary of Article 370 abrogation. The rally is scheduled to be held at Bana Singh Stadium in RS Pura on Monday to commemorate the complete unification of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, said J&K BJP general secretary, Vibodh Gupta.

“The day of August 5, 2019, is a very important day in our lives. On this vital day five years ago, a historic blunder was corrected and we, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, united completely with the rest of India. We are now able to enjoy all the rights and the liberties, and are progressing on the path of development,” PTI quoted Gupta as saying.

Opposition Plans Protest

Opposition parties, including the Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have slammed the BJP's move to organise a ceremony to celebrate the Article 370 abrogation.

A local PDP leader told PTI that a demonstration will be staged outside the party headquarters in Gandhinagar, Jammu to observe August 5 as a “black day”.

Surge in Terror Attacks In Jammu

Recently, there has been a rise in the incidents of terror attacks in the Jammu region, including an attack on an army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur. In July, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) disclosed that a total of 28 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 encounters or counterterror operations up to July 21 this year.

Last month, one Pakistani intruder was shot dead as Indian Army foiled an attack by the Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. One Indian Army soldier also lost his life, while four others, including a major-rank officer, sustained injuries in the attack.