‘Chilling reminder of Kashmir’: Valley leaders liken Delhi clampdown to post-2019 restrictions

Several political leaders and protesters were detained in Delhi ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's planned protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti likened Delhi's clampdown to the situation in Kashmir, describing it as a "chilling reminder" of post-2019 restrictions.

Mufti specifically drew parallels to Kashmir following the unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370, stating that Delhi had descended into an environment of "chilling reminders" akin to Kashmir. Both leaders drew attention to the stringent security measures in Delhi, including a 24-hour mobile internet blockade and sealed roads leading to Jantar Mantar.

Omar Abdullah, in particular, emphasized that if elections were not fair, how could the nation claim to be democratic.