6 J-K parties ally for restoration of pre-Aug 2019 ‘constitutional status’

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 15

Six political parties of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday formed a formal alliance pledging to work for the restoration of the UT’s pre-August 5, 2019 constitutional status.

The ‘People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration’ consists of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party, the People’s Conference, The JK People’s Movement, the CPM and the Awami National Conference.

The alliance was formalised at a crucial meeting held at JKNC’s patron and chief Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence today.

After the two hour meeting, Abdullah said the battle of the alliance is a constitutional one.

“We have named this alliance The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. Our battle is a constitutional battle. We want the government of India to return to the people of the state the rights they held before August 5, 2019,” Farooq Aabdullah said.

JKNC’s vice president Omar Abdullah who attended the meeting noted that the alliance has been formed by the original signatories to the Gupkar declaration and has been given a proper name and structure today.

The original signatories had first congregated at Abdullah’s residence on August 4, 2019 and signed the declaration which feared change in JK’s constitutional status and pledged to continue working for the autonomy of the area.

Abdullah said the battle for the alliance was against Parliament’s August 5, 2019 moves that scrapped Article 370 which guaranteed special constitutional status to JK and bifurcated JK state into the UTs of JK and Ladakh.

The alliance partners called for a dialogue between all stakeholders to restore JK’s status to pre August 5, 2019 status. The meeting today was attended by the Abdullahs, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone, JK People’s Movement’s Javaid Mir and CPM’s Yousuf Tarigami.

Abdullah said all partners agreed to struggle for the restoration of what was snatched from JK and Ladakh.

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