The BJP on Friday (August 7, 2026) suspended nine party workers following an outcry over a rally where slogans, allegedly berating Kashmir women, were raised during a rally celebrating abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 in south Kashmir’s Anantnag.  

A BJP spokesman said detailed deliberations and discussions with held by Ashok Koul, BJP’s State General Secretary (Organization) and Altaf Thakur, State Spokesperson and Prabhari, District Anantnag.

“It has been unanimously decided to initiate strict disciplinary action against those found responsible for organizing and participating in the unauthorized rally,” said the BJP.

The BJP said the district unit of Anantnag held “an unauthorized Tiranga Rally”. “The rally was neither organized nor authorized by the BJP’s Anantnag unit nor had it obtained the requisite permission from the district administration,” said the BJP.

The BJP said it took serious note of the objectionable and derogatory remarks, ‘’Maklow Azi Hund Te Fazi Hund Azat’, (Honour of Azi and Fazi has ended with abrogation of Article 370.

“Such conduct is unacceptable and is against the values, discipline, dignity, and principles of the BJP,” said the BJP.

Meanwhile, suspended BJP workers tendered apology on social media platforms for the slogan, which was apparently counter to National Conference (NC) age-old slogans of relating Article 370 with the honour of local women.

Senior NC leader and Minister Sakina Ittoo had sought FIR into the incident. “If the BJP genuinely believes that the conduct of those involved was wrong, it must go beyond symbolic statements. An FIR should be registered against those responsible, and appropriate legal and disciplinary action must be taken,” said Ms. Ittoo.

She said the “irresponsible and derogatory” slogans raised by the BJP Anantnag unit “were an insult not only to political discourse but to the dignity of our Kashmiri mothers and sisters”.

“On one hand, they preach “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”: on the other, they shamelessly demean the honour of the women of Kashmir for political mileage. Such language has no place in a civilised democracy and must be unequivocally condemned,” said the minister.