“We aim to restore J&K’s constitutional status as it existed before Aug 5 last year,” said former CM Farooq Abdullah after the meeting of signatories.
Since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the signatories of the Gupkar Declaration met for the first time on Thursday and formed a new alliance with an aim to restore J&K’s constitutional status as it existed before August 5 last year, the Indian Express reported.
“We have named this alliance as the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. Our battle is a constitutional battle and we want the government of India to return to the people of the State the rights they held before 5th Aug 2019. We aim to restore J&K’s constitutional status as it existed before Aug 5 last year,” said former CM Farooq Abdullah after the meeting of signatories.
The NC, PDP, CPI(M), PC, JKPM and ANC are all part of the newly formed alliance.
The alliance favours initiation of dialogue between all stakeholders for resolution of the J&K issue, the National Conference chief said.
In the meeting held at Abdullah’s residence, days after PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was released from detention, Mufti herself, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, Peoples Movement leader Javaid Mir and CPIM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami were present.
On August 4, 2019, the Gupkar declaration was issued, after a meeting of Kashmir’s mainstream political parties at Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence unanimously resolved to stay united to protect to “defend the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The following day, thee special status of Kashmir was scrapped. Later, political leaders and workers were detained, in an unprecedented crackdown.
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