Gupkar Alliance fooling people on J&K special status: BJP

Srinagar, November 8

The BJP lashed out at the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Sunday, a day after the alliance announced it would contest the upcoming first-ever District Development Council (DDC) polls in J&K unitedly, saying it is only after power and is fooling people about seeking the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status.

The PAGD — an alliance of seven mainstream parties of J&K seeking the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status — announced on Saturday that it would contest the DDC polls unitedly and not allow the sacred space in democracy to be “invaded or marauded by divisive forces”.

Calling the alliance the “Gupkar Gang”, J&K BJP’s general secretary and Kashmir affairs in-charge Vibodh Gupta said the parties in it were after power and people should understand their intentions.“If the alliance is against the Constitution of India, then how come is this gang fighting the DDC election under the same constitution? Those who will emerge as winners will have to take oath under the very constitution that the Gupkar Gang is opposing,” Gupta told the media at a press conference here.He said the PAGD’s decision to contest the DDC polls reflects the “dual politics” being played by it.

“This is how the Gupkar Gang is playing cheap politics and trying to fool people. On the one hand, they want to remain in the system and gain power, but on the other hand, they are opposing the same constitution under which they are supposed to take oath,” the BJP leader said. — PTI