Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti criticized the National Conference protest for statehood restoration. She deemed the demonstration lacklustre and deliberately understated, lacking a call for Article 370. Mufti argued a Jantar Mantar protest would have demanded special status reinstatement. The PDP stayed away, insisting on Article 370 restoration and prisoner release. This follows the 2019 revocation of Article 370 and state bifurcation.