Picture : Twitter / ANI
The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration have expressed disappointment over the outcome of the recent all-party meeting on Jammu and Kashmir chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying there was lack of substantial confidence building measures like release of political and other prisoners.
Alliance spokesperson and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader M Y Tarigami said the confidence building measures (CBMs) would have initiated the much-needed process of reaching out to the people of J-K “who are the biggest stakeholders and sufferers of the J-K problem”.
All the members of the PAGD expressed their disappointed at the outcome of the Delhi meeting especially at the absence of any CBMs such as releasing political and other prisoners from jails and lack of concrete steps to end the alleged “atmosphere of suppression” that has “choked” J-K since 2019, the spokesperson said in a statement.
The PAGD said assembly elections should be held only after restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and asked the BJP-led central government to honour its commitment made on the floor of Parliament.
“As far as the restoration of statehood is concerned, it has been BJPs commitment on the floor of Parliament and they must honour their word,” Tarigami said in a statement.
Tarigami said the assembly election “must be held only after restoration of full statehood” to Jammu and Kashmir.
“To this end, the PAGD has decided to reach out to other political parties in Jammu and Kashmir with a view to take a common position on the issue,” he said.
The PAGD met on Sunday evening under the chairmanship of Farooq Abdullah — the National Conference president — at his residence. NC vice- president Omar Abdullah too was present.
The meeting was attended by alliance vice-chairperson and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, M Y Tarigami, NC leader Hasnain Masoodi, Peoples Movement chief Javed Mustafa Mir and Awami National Conference senior vice president Muzaffar Ahmed Shah.
