SRINAGAR: Leaders of Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration have reached Jammu where they are scheduled to hold a meeting on Saturday at Dr Farooq Abdullah residence.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti reached Jammu on Thursday amid protests by right-wing parties. She also addressed her party workers and leaders on Thursday and Friday.
While on Friday, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and several other leaders also reached Jammu and are scheduled to hold a meeting on Saturday. “The meeting is scheduled to take place at Dr Farooq Abdullah residence. Leaders of Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration will listen to people of Jammu and try to take them on board,” a source said.
The source said the PAGD has invited leaders of various parties, civil society groups for the meeting.
At least seven political parties have formed the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration for restoration of Article 370 which the Centre abrogated on August 5 last year.
The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration has also given it a formal structure with Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti its president and vice president, respectively.
Sajad Lone is spokesperson of Peoples Alliance and M Y Tarigami its convener. NC Member Parliament Retd Justice Hasnian Masoodi has been elected its coordinator.
Traditionally bitter political rivals, the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party have decided to keep their individual rivalries in suspended animation and fight together to get Article 370 restored.
The Centre revoked the special constitutional status of the state and also bifurcated it into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
These parties had reaffirmed their commitment to the declaration and vowed to fight unitedly against the Centre’s decision to alter the region’s status under Article 370 of the Constitution. (KINS)