A complete shutdown was observed in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.
Markets remained closed and public transport was partially affected across the district. The situation remained peaceful, with protest demonstrations reported in several areas.
According to reports received by GNS, the shutdown was called by the recently formed All Party Council, a joint platform comprising representatives from PDP, BJP, JD(U), Apni Party, People's Conference, and civil society organisations, including the Pesticide Association. The call for protest and shutdown received broad support from various sections of society.
The protest was triggered by a government order to relocate the office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Dy. CEO) from Shopian town to Chitragam, the native village of newly elected MLA Shaukat Hussain Ganai, who won the Zainapora constituency seat on a National Conference (NC) ticket in the recent assembly elections.
Protesters from both Shopian and Zainapora constituencies have voiced concern over the move, alleging that the decision may be politically influenced and could inconvenience the public. Residents are demanding that the order be revoked immediately and the Dy. CEO office be reinstated at the Mini Secretariat in Shopian.
It is noteworthy that Advocate Shabir Ahmad Kuley, who was elected as an independent MLA from Shopian, along with representatives from multiple political parties, played an active role in mobilising support for the protest under the All Party Council banner. (GNS)
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