Sajad Lone party exits J&K Gupkar alliance, cites ‘breach of trust’

SRINAGAR: The Peoples’ Conference on Tuesday quit a sevenparty grouping in Jammu and Kashmir called the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), delivering a blow to the coalition within three months of its formation.

Peoples’ Conference leader and former J&K minister Sajad Lone wrote a strongly worded letter to PAGD chairperson and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, citing “breach of trust” and alleging that some constituents of the alliance that fought last year’s district development council (DDC) polls together fielded proxy candidates against official nominees. “No party is willing to cede space; no party is willing to sacrifice. We fought against each other in Kashmir province, not against the perpetrators of August 5 (2019). And those who perpetrated August 5 and their minions are now vocally gleeful. It is difficult for us to stay on and pretend as if nothing has happened,” he wrote in the letter, which has been seen by HT.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre nullified Article 370 and bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories, triggering widespread protests. The PAGD was formed in October 2020 to demand the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status.

After Lone’s desertion, the alliance now comprises regional powerhouses NC and the Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the Communist Party of Indiamarxist, the Peoples Movement, the Awami National Conference, and the Jammu and Kashmir People Democratic Front.

Last year, the seven parties — some of them traditional rivals — fought the DDC elections together and won an impressive 110 of the 280 seats, ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 75 seats.

Lone, however, said he will continue to support the objectives the alliance was built on. “...We have issued clear instructions to all party leaders not to issue any statements against PAGD alliance or its leaders.”

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar termed the move unfortunate. “It’s a loss to PAGD. I am sure Farooq Abdullah will meet other leaders of the alliance to devise future course of action.”

BJP state spokesperson Altaf Thakur said the PAGD was an alliance of self-serving politicians. “They had promised that they will restore Article 370 if they win..now they know that it can’t happen. So the alliance has broken.”