Jammu, March 12, KNT: Thousands of workers and supporters of the National Conference on Wednesday staged a massive protest in Jammu condemning the recent attack on party president Farooq Abdullah, with demonstrators carrying party flags, placards and banners while raising slogans against the Centre and the administration headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The protest was organized by the National Conference to condemn the attack on Abdullah and to demand restoration of law and order as well as early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, with party leaders describing the incident as a serious challenge to democratic politics in the Union Territory.
Large groups of protesters marched through parts of Jammu city holding banners reading “Restore Law and Order” and “Give Our State Back” while shouting slogans against the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration.
Senior party leaders addressing the gathering said the alleged attack on Abdullah had angered party workers and supporters across the region.
“The attack on our leader is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice,” a senior National Conference leader told protesters while addressing the rally.
Police personnel were deployed in large numbers across key junctions and protest routes to maintain law and order as the demonstration moved through busy roads in the city.
Traffic movement in several areas of Jammu remained disrupted for hours as the procession of protesters carrying NC flags and banners passed through major intersections.
Authorities diverted vehicles to alternate routes to regulate the movement of traffic while monitoring the protest.
Some commuters expressed frustration over the disruption while others said political protests were part of democratic expression. [KNT]
