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| Will take issue of abrogation of J&K special status to every forum: PAGD | | | 
eARLY TIMES rEPORT
Srinagar, June 9: Reiterating its resolve to take the issue of abrogation of Special Status of erstwhile state of J&K to every forum, including Parliament, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Wednesday said that its doors are open for talks on this issue with everybody. The PAGD, a coalition of five mainstream political parties, met on Wednesday evening at the Gupkar residence of former chief minister and the alliance vice president Mehbooba Mufti in the summer capital, Srinagar, and discussed the current situation in J&K.
The PAGD said that it will continue to raise the issues confronted by people in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. “We will raise the issue of abrogation of special status of J&K at every forum, including Parliament. Our doors are open for talks on this issue,” PAGD president and Member of Parliament (MP) Srinagar Farooq Abdullah, who was accompanied by other signatures, told reporters after the meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday.
However, answering a question, Dr Abdullah said that the PAGD will not initiate talks with anyone though will hold dialogue with anyone who approaches them.
Meanwhile, senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami has been appointed as the spokesperson for PAGD. The development comes months after Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, who was the spokesperson of PAGD, parted ways from the alliance.
“There were many reasons, including COVID-19 pandemic, that we were not able to meet. But, today we met and discussed various issues,” he said. Answering a question about delimitation, Dr Abdullah said, “We have approached the Supreme Court (SC) and we have told them (government) that we will take a decision about it after we head back from the apex court.” Hitting out at police, he alleged that the highhandedness of security forces should stop at once as it would be counterproductive. “Police is arresting young children everywhere. You don’t have to go far… if we seen the Gupkar road is often closed without any reason. When we ask them (police) why was the road closed they have no answer. It is completely wrong,” he said.
He said movement of people on roads is their democratic right and should not be curtailed without any reason. “I urge the Lt Governor that such counterproductive steps should be stopped at once. It would be difficult for them (administration) if people revolt against such moves,” he added.
About why he didn’t resign from Parliament after abrogation of special status of J&K, Dr Abdullah said he is of the opinion that he should stay put and fight. “I will not resign from Parliament. I’m of the opinion that we should stay in the eye of the storm and fight,” he added.
The meeting holds significance as it comes a day before Prime Minister Narendar Modi will reportedly hold a high level meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials to make some important decisions about the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, uncertainty has gripped Kashmir from the last couple of days even as rumours about further bifurcation of J&K is spreading like wildfire in the valley, where heavy movement of troops has added to the anxiety of the people. However, there has been no official confirmation in this regard while police said that the heavy movement of troops was in view of redeployment of forces, who were withdrawn and sent for election duty in other states.
The PAGD, including National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPI(M), Peoples Movement and Awami National Conference, met at 1700 hrs on Wednesday at the Gupkar residence of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
This was the first PAGD meeting that was held after Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone disassociated his party's alliance with PAGD that was forged to present a united front after abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides the division of the erstwhile state of J&K into two Union Territories.
The announcement of forging an alliance by the name of PAGD, a brainchild of Farooq Abdullah, came barely 36 hours after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti walked free on October 13 last year from 14-month-long detention.
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