To counter protest against J&K government, Omar Abdullah’s party has a plan – gherao BJP offices

The National Conference party in Jammu and Kashmir has announced plans to hold a peaceful protest, known as a gherao, against BJP offices in Srinagar and Jammu. This move comes in response to the BJP's decision to blockade the Civil Secretariat in a similar fashion, demanding attention to recruitment and employment issues. The National Conference asserts that the mandate of the people of J&K is not a "blank cheque" and that their demands must be respected.

Their primary requests include constitutional guarantees, the restoration of statehood, clearance of the reservation file, and justice for the region's residents. The National Conference's demands stem from key election promises, such as maintaining special status, restoring statehood, and rationalizing the reservation policy. While the party's government has accepted recommendations for reservation rationalization, they note that the file remains under review by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha.

The BJP has responded to the National Conference's gherao by organizing a counter-protest with party leaders and workers marching from Clock Tower in Srinagar to the Civil Secretariat. National Conference Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek a fresh mandate specifically regarding statehood, allowing J&K voters to determine their stance on the issue.