The Amarnath Yatra from Jammu to Kashmir was temporarily suspended on Monday as a precautionary security measure coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. The suspension, which prevented the movement of Yatris from Jammu to the Valley, was implemented without a specific reason provided by the authorities.
On Sunday, a batch of 1,112 devotees departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys towards the Valley. However, the continuation of the Yatra was halted on Monday. Sources indicate that the suspension was a precautionary measure to maintain law and order during the sensitive anniversary.
On August 5, 2019, the Indian Parliament abrogated Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This move also led to the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, aligned Jammu and Kashmir with other Indian states and territories, repealing local laws related to property inheritance and job reservations, and extending land and voting rights to various groups, including Gujjars/Bakarwals, Paharis, Gaddi Brahmins, Safai Karamcharis, and West Pakistan refugees.
The anniversary has sparked varied reactions across the political spectrum. The BJP is marking the day as ‘Ekatma Mahotsav,’ celebrating the integration of Jammu and Kashmir. In contrast, the Congress has denounced August 5 as a black day in J&K’s history. The PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, and the DPAP, headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad, have announced plans to protest against the bifurcation and the denial of statehood to the former state.
