Srinagar, Sept. 3 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) protest in Srinagar and march toward the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's office at the civil secretariat on Wednesday gave the ruling National Conference (NC) an opportunity to hold a parallel protest demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A.

For the first time, along with NC workers, dozens of NC legislators led by health and education minister Sakina Itoo held a protest against the Centre and the BJP, blaming them for becoming an impediment in the restoration of statehood, Article 370 and 35A.

Although NC leaders have been issuing statements on statehood and their legislators also held a protest in New Delhi on the first day of the monsoon session, this is the first t...