by Yawar Hussain
SRINAGAR: The Peoples Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) which met earlier today reiterated their commitment to fighting for the pre-August 5 status of Jammu and Kashmir along with nominating CPIM leader and former lawmaker Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami as the new spokesperson.
Talking to Kashmir Life, Tarigami said the PAGD discussed the present situation in J&K along with discussing the future tactics to be adopted to restore the rights snatched from the people on August 5.
On the delimitation process, Tarigami said that PAGD’s official stand remains that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act is “illegal” under which the process is being carried out.
“We have already challenged it in court. Our stand remains what it was. We cannot be part of it,” he said.
On the National Conference’s possible joining of the delimitation process, he said that Dr Farooq Abdullah, the PAGD and NC President informed the meeting that they haven’t even been invited by the commission yet.
“Anyways NC’s joining would have no effect because their three-parliamentarians would have no voting rights. They would only have an advisory role,” he said.
He said the meeting also discussed the police “excesses” in Kashmir valley.
“There is an environment of fear in which police is catching and booking everyone from professionals to common people. They are after everyone,” he said, adding that he doesn’t understand how many people would police keep in lockups.
Earlier while talking to the media persons after the meeting, Dr Farooq Abdullah, when asked whether he will resign as Member of Parliament in case any unfavourable decision is taken by the government, said that he will douse the flames in the fire. “I will not quit. But, I will fight for my people in the parliament,” he said.
He added that the doors of PAGD has and will remain always open for everyone. “We have not been asked or informed about anything so far regarding the ongoing speculations,” he said.
The meeting of the PAGD was convened by President Dr Farooq Abdullah.
The meeting was attended by PDP Chief and PAGD Vice President Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Peoples Movement Chairman Javid Mustafa Mir, Awami National Conference Vice President Muzaffar Shah. PDP General Secretary Mehboob Beg and National Conference Parliamentarian Retd Justice Hasnain Masoodi.
