Several Delhiites gathered on Saturday at Jantar Mantar to protest against the “75 days of lockdown in Kashmir” after the amendment to Article 370 and 35A.
The protesters released a “citizens’ statement” in opposition to the government’s move and said no steps should be taken about the future of Jammu and Kashmir without the consent of the people. They demanded restoration of the pre-August 5, 2019 situation with the reversal of the bifurcation of the territory as well as the reversal of its downgrading to the status of a Union Territory.
The “citizen protest” was called to put an end to “intimidation and harassment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by police, paramilitary and military personnel”. Among other demands, the protesters said communication infrastructure must be restored and all restrictions on civil society must be restored.
The protesters appealed to the Supreme Court to cease delaying the application of its judicial power to intervene and deal with a sense of urgency and seriousness the several petitions that address the constitutional crisis occasioned by the amendment.