By Muslim Mirror Staff
Mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday held a meeting and formed an alliance to seek restoration of the special administrative status of the erstwhile state as it existed before 5 August 2019, PTI reported.
The meeting was convened at the residence of former Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah a day after NC leaders and former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah met PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, also a former Chief Minister, at her residence following release from detention on Tuesday.
The alliance is named as People’s Alliance For Gupkar Declaration.
The Gupkar Declaration, made on August 4, 2019, had called for safeguarding the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We want the political issue of the state to be resolved as quickly as possible through dialogue in a peaceful manner with all the stakeholders involved in this problem,” Farooq Abdullah said.
“We shall struggle for restoration of what was snatched from Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Ours is a constitutional battle … we would strive for restoration of the constitution (with regard to Jammu and Kashmir) as it existed on August 5, 2019,” he said.
He said the detention of Mehbooba Mufti, who was released after 14 months, was illegal, unjustified and constitutional and demanded that all those who are still in prisons must be released immediately.
The meeting was attended by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, Peoples Movement leader Javaid Mir and CPIM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.
On August 4 last year, all major political parties in Kashmir, except BJP, had met at the residence of Farooq Abdullah amidst uncertainty and tension in the erstwhile state as the Centre had rushed additional paramilitary forces there while asking all tourists including Amarnath pilgrims to leave the Valley as soon as possible.
The joint statement issued by the political parties, expressing concern over the situation, came to be known as the Gupkar Declaration.
The next day, the central government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and divided it into two federally-administered territories.
Kashmiri people need to understand that Hindus are not against providing special status to Jammu & Kashmir. If you observe, there are few states in India enjoying special status. But the pre-requisite of special status is to see development & peace in the region. Unfortunately, special status in Kashmir was heavily misused by Pakistan & local politicians & hence it is required to abrogate it. If these politicians give guarantee of development & peace then we are in the favor of article 370 & 35A.