Jammu and Kashmir was hit yesterday by its biggest general strike since losing its semi-autonomous status last year, with local anger brewing over a new measure allowing outsiders to buy land in the territory.
The federal government changed the constitution to bring the territory under direct federal rule last year, sparking protests and a months-long Internet blackout.
Shops and businesses stayed shut yesterday and most residents kept at home after a shutdown was called by a coalition of political and religious groups that want self-determination for the region.
Extra security forces patrolled the nearly empty streets.
Last week, New Delhi announced the abolition of laws that meant only the 12mn permanent Kashmir residents could own land there.
Even Kashmir groups normally supportive of Indian rule have opposed the changes, which also allow the armed forces to designate strategic zones for building military infrastructure.
Many Kashmiris accuse the government of seeking to water down the local population in India’s only Muslim-majority territory.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said Kashmir had been “put up for sale and left bereft of any basic protections”.
“The amendments add to the fear of demographic changes. They want to alter the character of this place,” said Abdullah, who was among hundreds of political leaders detained for months during last year’s protests.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed certain opposition parties for “playing dirty politics” on last year’s Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir and urged all political parties “not to play into the hands of anti-national forces” trying to break the country.
He said when the entire nation was mourning the death of brave soldiers in the Pulwama attack, some people indulged in dirty politics for their political gains.
He was referring to the February 2019 Pulwama attack, in which 40 paramilitary troops were killed in a car bomb blast.
Modi paid tribute to ‘Iron Man Of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, for his contribution to national unity and integrity. 
“Today, 130 crore countrymen are working towards building a strong and competent nation wherein there is equality of all and immense opportunities. Only a self-reliant nation can be assured of progress as well as national security,” the prime minister said while speaking after paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Gujarat on his 145th birth anniversary.
“Today, while watching the paramilitary forces’ parade, there was another picture in my mind - of the Pulwama terror attack. The country can never forget that when the whole country was saddened by the martyrdom of its brave soldiers, some people were not part of that sorrow. Instead, they were looking to derive political mileage from the Pulwama attack.”
He said “the country cannot forget what kind of language was spoken and how many divisive statements were made by several opposition parties. The country cannot forget the low-level politics which was at its peak - filled with selfish means and arrogance when the nation was reeling under a brutal blow.” 
Modi urged political parties not to indulge in such politics for securing national security and the morale of our security forces.
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