by Yawar Hussain

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) isn’t seeking restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir but the pre-August 5 situation along with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti at Kupwara on Tuesday, February 16, 2020.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of her party’s worker convention in Kupwara, Mehbooba termed the present the situation in the Union Territory as “Jungle Raj”.

“We are demanding the same status which Jammu and Kashmir had prior to August 5, 2019, and the resolution of the Kashmir issue for which lakhs of youth have sacrificed their lives,” she said.

“Our homes have been devastated. We have lost crores of rupees in business due to Kashmir issue. We are demanding its resolution through talks with Pakistan and people of Kashmir,” she added.

She said where ever the present the government sees “resistance” against their “oppression” they take regressive action.

“The kind of oppression being employed upon the people of Kashmir is now also being felt by other people of the country especially the farmers. But that oppression on farmers is very less in comparison to what the people of Kashmir are facing,” she said.

She said the PAGD has been formed for the “aspirations” of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“It (PAGD) will continue to be in existence till those aspiratio0ns are fulfilled.”

She said the people are being arrested first and then charged under “false” cases.

“There is Jungle Raj in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“All our young boys along with Engineer Rashid who are in various jails should be released forthwith,” Mehbooba said.

Interestingly, PDP General Secretary and former minister Abdul Haq Khan, who hails from Kupwara, was conspicuous by his absence from the workers’ convention raising many eyebrows about him having unofficially parted ways with the party.

PDP’s outgoing Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Mir was also absent from the event.

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