On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Article 370 abrogation, the ruling party, BJP on Saturday celebrated the "historic day" by highlighting how Jammu and Kashmir have seen peace and development since the abrogation. 

However, the opposition party including the PDP and the Congress expressed completely different emotions, they staged protests and demanded restoration of statehood.

The BJP celebrated the day by holding a public meeting in Srinagar where its leaders there discussed the various changes that took place in the region following the 2019 decision.

As per PTI reports, some of the changes that were highlighted included, there have been no shutdowns in the Kashmir Valley, it has hosted international events and witnessed record tourist footfall.

State party general secretary Ashok Koul said, "There used to be shutdowns for the most part of the year in the Kashmir Valley, but now, there are no strikes.

While J&K L-G Manoj Sinha at an event in Srinagar said the biggest change after the abrogation of Article 370 was that the "common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes".

"Pakistan-sponsored shutdowns by terrorists and separatists, due to which schools, colleges and business establishments used to remain closed for about 150 days a year, have ended. The dreams of the youth of Kashmir have got wings now and in the days to come, their contribution to nation building will not be less than anyone," Sinha told reporters.

Home Minister Amit Shah on the other hand, while speaking during an event in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar said, "On August 5, 2019, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi had taken the historic decision to scrap Article 370. On this occasion, I thank the prime minister on behalf of the people of the country."

"The historic decision to scrap Article 370 taken on this day in 2019 ushered in a new dawn of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir," the home minister tweeted.

While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti claimed she and some senior leaders of her party were placed under house arrest, and several others detained, the National Conference (NC) said its headquarters Nawa-i-Subah was "sealed" and no one was allowed to go inside, reported PTI.

"I've been put under house arrest along with other senior PDP leaders today. This comes after a midnight crackdown where scores of my party men are illegally detained in police stations. GOI's (Government of India) false claims about normalcy to the SC (Supreme Court) stands exposed by their actions driven by paranoia," Mehbooba tweeted.

She said on one hand, giant hoardings calling upon Kashmiris to "celebrate" the abrogation of Article 370 have been put up across Srinagar, whereas "brute force is being used to choke the actual sentiment of the people".

Apart from her, others which included the Congress, PDP staged a protest to mark the day.

Congress members led by the party's J&K chief, Vikar Rasool Wani, held a demonstration at Shaheedi Chowk, demanding restoration of J&K's statehood, protection of land rights and 100% reservation for locals in jobs.

"We are observing August 5 as 'black day' since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of our state into UTs (union territories) in 2019...we demand immediate restoration of statehood along with state subject laws," Wani told reporters.

"There is no change in Jammu and Kashmir, contrary to the claims of the BJP which had talked about industrial investment, prosperity, and model state. The reality is that the people are suffering due to economic distress and high inflation while our health and education sectors are in shambles," the J&K Congress president said.