Srinagar: People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday announced that her party will hold peaceful protests at district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, demanding the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, while also calling for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The announcement was made at the PDP's 27th foundation day celebrations in Srinagar, where Mufti said party workers across the Union Territory would participate in district-level demonstrations. "All our people, who are sitting here, will hold peaceful protests in their districts on August 5 for the restoration of Article 370, 35A, and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue," she said.

Describing August 5 as a day that changed Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape, the former chief minister said the PDP would continue its campaign for the restoration of the region's special constitutional status, statehood and what she called the protection of its identity. She also reiterated the party's commitment to resolving the Kashmir issue through dialogue, reconciliation and democratic engagement.

The protest call comes days after National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party leaders staged a protest in New Delhi demanding the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides reiterating its demand for Article 370 and statehood, the PDP passed a political resolution seeking the reopening of cross-Line of Control trade routes, including Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, and urged the Centre to open the Sharda Peeth corridor for Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims.

The party also called for the release of political prisoners and undertrials, relocation of the Army from areas where militancy has declined, separate administrative divisions for the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions, and greater benefits for Jammu and Kashmir from its hydropower resources.

Why is Article 370 at the centre of the protest?

Article 370 was a provision of the Constitution that granted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir special status, allowing it to have its own Constitution and greater autonomy over many matters except defence, foreign affairs and communications. Article 35A, which was linked to Article 370, empowered the Union Territory (UT) to define permanent residents and provide them with special rights related to land ownership, government jobs and other benefits.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, rendered Article 35A inoperative and reorganised the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, regional parties including the PDP have repeatedly sought the restoration of special status and statehood, while the Centre has maintained that the constitutional changes have strengthened integration and development in the region.

With PTI inputs