Will deepen divide, says PAGD on seat proposal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21

The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) today rejected the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that they were “divisive and unacceptable”. It also announced a peaceful protest in Srinagar on January 1.

The Delimitation Commission, set up to redraw the boundaries of Assembly constituencies in the UT, is learnt to have proposed six additional seats for the Jammu region and one for the Kashmir valley in its draft discussed with its five associate members — three MPs of the National Conference and two of the BJP from J&K — in New Delhi yesterday. “We want peace and do not want any confrontation with any institution or government. However, we will raise our voice for the defence of legitimate rights of the people in a peaceful manner and have decided to hold a peaceful demonstration in Srinagar on January 1 against the proposal put forward by the commission as in our view the draft is unacceptable to all communities,” PAGD chief spokesperson and CPM leader MY Tarigami said.

The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, an alliance formed by five J&K-based political parties, has been pushing for the restoration of special status of the erstwhile state that was revoked by the Centre in August 2019.

On commission’s recommendations, Tarigami said, “We are firmly of the opinion that it (proposal) is divisive and will further deepen the divide between Jammu and Kashmir.”

“It will also deepen the alienation of the people and will create a bigger void which will be detrimental to the interests of the people of J&K and Ladakh as well as damage the interests of the country as a whole.” The meeting, which took place at the residence of NC leader Farooq Abdullah in Jammu, was attended by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Awami National Conference leader Muzaffar Ahmad Shah.

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