Speculation of rift within PAGD following all-party meet

Speculations are rife about a rift within the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first all-part meeting on Jammu and Kashmir where delimitation, statehood and assembly elections remained key issues of discussion.

Srinagar:Political activities have gained momentum in Jammu and Kashmir after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first all-party meet with leaders of mainstream political parties on June 24 in New Delhi. However, speculations are rife about a rift within the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after the meeting wherein delimitation, statehood and assembly elections remained key issues of discussion.

The National Conference and the People's Democratic Party were keenly watched as these two parties are major factions of the PAGD. However, after meeting PM Modi, differences within the PAGD seem to have widened.

The Gupkar Alliance meeting scheduled for June 28 was cancelled due to some personal engagements of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti. However, on the same day, Mehbooba Mufti went to offer condolences to the slain policeman and his family in the Tral area of south Kashmir.

It is speculated that differing statements of the NC and the PDP leaders during and after the meeting with Modi on the issues of the repeal of Article 370 and the dialogue between India and Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir could have led to the development. After the meeting, Mufti had said she had urged the Central government to restore Article 370 and start a dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue while NC Vice President Omar Abdullah did not mention any talks with Pakistan.

During interaction with media on the restoration of Article 370, Omar Abdullah had said that the matter is in the Supreme Court and his hopes are pinned on the judiciary. PAGD was formed on October 15, 2020, as a conglomerate of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to fight for the restoration of the pre-August 2019 status of the erstwhile state.

The PDP chief said on Wednesday that she will always be a part of the PAGD, however, things are not as smooth as they appear to be. However, Gupkar Alliance Coordinator and NC leader Hasnain Masoodi while speaking to ETV Bharat said that the Alliance is active and working to restore the status of Jammu and Kashmir as it was on August 4, 2019.