Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Leaders and workers of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, joined by a large number of women activists, staged a “Secretariat Chalo” protest march in Jammu on Sunday, raising concerns over alleged disrespect shown to the national song Vande Mataram and accusing the ruling dispensation of failing to fulfil commitments made ahead of the Assembly elections.
Party workers gathered in large numbers and attempted to march toward the Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government, to press their demands directly before the administration. The protest drew a strong turnout of women activists, who raised slogans and carried placards highlighting what they described as broken promises on development, employment generation and welfare delivery made by the National Conference led government during last year’s Assembly campaign.
The demonstration comes at a politically sensitive moment, with the country marking 150 years since the composition of Vande Mataram and the government running the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign alongside Independence Day celebrations across Jammu and Kashmir. BJP workers alleged that certain quarters within the ruling coalition had shown insufficient respect to the national song during official functions, a charge that has become a recurring flashpoint between the party and the state government in recent months.
Beyond the symbolic dispute, the protest reflected deeper opposition grievances over the pace of governance since Omar Abdullah’s government took charge following the restoration of the Assembly. BJP leaders have repeatedly accused the administration of falling short on manifesto promises related to job creation for the region’s large youth population, infrastructure development in outlying districts, and welfare schemes for vulnerable communities. The Secretariat Chalo call was intended to escalate this pressure by taking the protest directly to the administrative heart of the government.
Security arrangements were tightened around the Civil Secretariat in anticipation of the march, with police and civil administration officials monitoring the demonstration to prevent any law and order issues. The protest adds to a series of opposition mobilisations in Jammu and Kashmir this year, as political parties outside the ruling coalition seek to keep pressure on the government ahead of future electoral contests. Party leaders indicated that further agitational programmes could follow if their concerns over both the Vande Mataram issue and unmet governance commitments are not addressed by the administration in the coming weeks.
