Restore J&K statehood: PAGD

New Delhi, August 24

The six-party Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday demanded restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood as existed prior to August 5, 2019, and said all political prisoners must be released forthwith.

In a meeting held at the residence of PAGD chairperson and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar today, the PAGD sought restoration of the special status of J&K and said nothing concrete had emerged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach to J&K parties. “Statehood as it existed prior to August 5, 2019, must be restored. All political prisoners must be released immediately. Indiscriminate use of draconian laws must be put to an end,” stated the PAGD resolution adopted after an extended meeting of the group attended by top and middle rung leaders.

Trust deficit

On PM’s outreach, the PAGD said nothing had emerged after the Prime Minister’s

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Dilli ki Doori and Dil ki Doori slogan during his meeting with J&K leaders in New

Delhi two months back.

“No confidence-building-measures have been taken to provide some relief to distressed people of the region,” the PAGD said.

The meeting came after People’s Conference Sajad Lone questioned the alliance’s stand on the special status of J&K and accused the NC and PDP of remaining silent on this principal demand of the people of the region at a recent meeting of the opposition parties.

The PAGD resolution today described as “unconstitutional” the decisions taken in Parliament on August 5, 2019, to nullify Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution and to bifurcate J&K. “These unconstitutional decisions have created a big political void and deep uncertainty in the erstwhile state. It is most unfortunate that the judicial challenges against the abrogation of Article 370 as a violation of the Constitution continued to remain pending before the Supreme Court even after two years,” the resolution said.

On PM’s outreach, the PAGD said nothing had emerged after the Prime Minister’s Dilli ki Doori and Dil ki Doori slogan during his meeting with J&K leaders in New Delhi two months back.

“No confidence-building-measures have been taken to provide some relief to distressed people of the region,” the PAGD said. — TNS