PAGD raises voice against Articles 370, 35A in J&K

The Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has once again raised the issue of restoration of Sections 370 and 35A, which has started a new political debate in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

According to details, the PAGD reiterated its commitment to the identity and special position of Jammu and Kashmir in a two-hour long meeting late on Sunday evening. Coalition spokesman Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami told reporters on Monday that the meeting held on Sunday evening discussed in detail the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on June 24.

He said that the meeting reiterated its commitment to continue the struggle at the political and legal level to reverse the decision taken on August 5, 2019 regarding J&K. He said that the meeting expressed frustration over the lack of concrete results after the all-party meeting with the PM in New Delhi.

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Coalition leaders expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the PAGD meeting on basic confidence-building measures, including the release of political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir by the Center. On the issue of re-granting statehood to J&K, Yousuf Tarigami said that it was informed in the meeting that the BJP had promised in the House that J&K would be re-graded as a state and promises must be kept.

Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami said that as promised, union territory (UT) should be given full state status before holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the political parties in the PAGD would initiate a series of consultations with other political parties to build consensus on the issue.

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Different political parties reacted differently to the PAGD’s statement on the restoration of sections 370 and 35A as well as the re-granting of state status to the UT before the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that as the matter under sections 370 and 35A is pending in the Supreme Court, all political parties should wait for the court’s verdict.

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Congress party spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that the Congress also hoped that after tomorrow’s all-party meeting, confidence building measures would be taken at the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir. No progress has been made so far.

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However, he said it was not a good idea to link the issue of re-establishing Jammu and Kashmir with state elections. He said that the Center should fulfill its promise as soon as possible and restore the state status of UT.

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