Srinagar, Sep 2: Separate street protests by the ruling National Conference (NC) and the BJP in Srinagar on Wednesday triggered a sharp political exchange, with opposition leaders accusing the two parties of turning public politics into a spectacle while pressing issues such as unemployment and the ongoing medical interns’ agitation remain unresolved.

The NC and BJP held separate demonstrations targeting each other, with police stopping both marches from proceeding towards their planned destinations.
PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti questioned what she described as selective restrictions on political protests, alleging that her party had previously been prevented from holding peaceful demonstrations while the NC and BJP were allowed to take to the streets.
“Who authorises these selective restrictions and why is the law being applied differently to different political parties?” she questioned in a post on X.
PDP leader and MLA Waheed Para also criticised the rival demonstrations, alleging that they were diverting attention from governance failures and rising unemployment.
“Today’s NC-BJP protests are quite a spectacle,” Para said, arguing that people were looking for solutions rather than political confrontation.
People’s Conference president and MLA Sajad Lone described the developments as a “theatre of the absurd”, questioning why two parties in power were protesting against each other.
“NC and BJP protesting against each other. Both are in power. Who is campaigning against whom?” Lone said.
Lone urged the two parties to instead focus on the concerns of protesting medical interns, whom he described as the “academic cream” of Jammu and Kashmir. The interns have been demanding an increase in their monthly stipend and better remuneration.
He said the plight of the interns represented a genuine public concern and urged political parties to give greater attention to the issue.
The political exchange intensified after NC chief spokesperson Imran Dar hit back at Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of making “baseless claims” and saying video evidence contradicted her allegations.
NC leader Ifra Jan also rejected Mehbooba’s claims, alleging that NC workers, including women office-bearers, were stopped and subjected to force during their protest.
The competing demonstrations and ensuing war of words have once again brought the focus on political space and the right to protest in Srinagar, while raising questions over whether political parties should devote greater attention to issues directly affecting the people.
Amid the political confrontation, the medical interns’ agitation and concerns over unemployment continue to remain significant issues demanding attention from the administration and elected representatives.