Congress Protest March Against Indo–US Trade Deal Foiled in Baramulla, MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone Alleges House Arrest

Baramulla, March 9: The Indian National Congress Committee in Baramulla had planned to hold a peaceful protest march on Monday against the proposed Indo–US Trade Deal.
According to party sources, the protest march was scheduled to be led by MLA Wagoora Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone and was to begin from the Congress residential quarter in Baramulla.

However, Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone alleged that police placed him under house arrest ahead of the planned protest. Reacting to the move, he said the party had intended to hold a peaceful and democratic protest and questioned the reasons behind the restrictions.
“We had planned a peaceful protest march against the Indo–US Trade Deal. There was no reason to place us under house arrest,” Lone said, expressing concern over what he termed as curbs on democratic activities.
Party workers said the protest was aimed at raising concerns over the implications of the proposed trade deal and to voice their opposition through a peaceful demonstration.