Our stand clear, what was ours, should be given back, says PAGD
Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, 24 June: After the invitation from New Delhi for an All-Party Meet, leaders of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a coalition of mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir, and other mainstream political leaders have reached New Delhi and are scheduled to participate in the meeting today.
Earlier, PAGD leaders attended an hour-long meeting at the home of Alliance chairman and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Nearly two years after J&K’s special status was revoked and it was divided into two Union Territories, they held consultations within their own parties on Delhi’s outreach.
With Delhi’s invitation to the talks, Farooq Abdullah said, our Agenda is clear and known to everyone, we will go and we will present our stance to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister in Delhi.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, before leaving for New Delhi said, we are not against the dialogue but we also wanted some Confidence Building Measures—CBMs to start. If Centre would have really wanted to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as in view of the Covid situation in the country, detainees were released, and that should have also happened for Jammu and Kashmir for political detainees or other detainees. That did not happen, but that doesn’t mean we are against the dialogue, but at least those who cannot be released they should have been shifted to Srinagar.”
“As far as the agenda of—PAGD is concerned, we are going to talk on that, we are going to convey them that what has been snatched from us is illegal and unconstitutional. Till the time it is not restored, the solution and peace in the region cannot be restored”, Mehbooba Said.
CPIM’s MY Tarigami said as far as the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration — (PAGD) is concerned, our stand is clear, we will demand what was ours should be given back to us back.
“We don’t know about their agenda, but we will reiterate the agenda of PAGD, we are going to plead on behalf of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, what has been guaranteed to us according to the constitution should be given us back”, he said.
“If the PM’s suggestions are pro-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, we will agree. And if they are not, we will oppose them,” Tarigami said.
, and other mainstream political leaders have reached New Delhi and will participate in the meeting.){kind=link}