Gupkar alliance passes resolution for J&K statehood restoration

THIS WAS THE 1ST EXTENDED PAGD MEETING SINCE ITS FORMATION AND WAS ADDRESSED BY ALL TOP ALLIANCE LEADERS

SRINAGAR: People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding restoration of the original constitutional position of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh -- Articles 370, 35A and full statehood.

PAGD members National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), J&K Awami National Conference, and the J&K People’s Movement decided this in a meeting at the residence of NC chief Farooq Abdullah. This was the first extended meeting of PAGD since its formation. The meeting was addressed by all top leaders of the alliance, including Farooq Abdullah and former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

PAGD spokesman and the general secretary of CPI(M), Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said that the unconstitutional decisions of August 5, 2019 to nullify Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India and the damaging legislation which dismembered the historic state and created two Union Territories have created a big political void and deep uncertainty in the erstwhile state. “It is most unfortunate that the judicial challenges against this abrogation as a violation of the Constitution continue to remain pending before the Supreme Court even after two years.”

J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal refused to comment on the issue.

Tarigami who was flanked by top leaders of the alliance said the suppression of civil liberties and democratic rights continues unabated in J&K. “Attack on democratic rights under draconian laws such as UAPA/PSA continues as hundreds of people remain under detention without charges being framed. New orders are being passed such as non-clearance for passports and government jobs to anyone involved in ‘law and order’ or ‘stone pelting cases’. This negates the principle of natural justice...”

Bharatiya Janata Party state spokesman Altaf Thakur said the PAGD has no agenda so they are spreading wrong information to remain relevant. “In last two years more than six thousand people got appointed at various posts including class IV posts, they were all locals of J&K. Nobody has forcibly taken anybody’s land after abrogation of Article 370 in UT.”