Pirzada Shakir
SRINAGAR: On 4 August last year, the Gupkar declaration was passed at Farooq Abdullah’s Fairview residence that was attended by leaders of different political parties amid speculation of dilution of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“All party’s meet” was first called by Er. Rashid, Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) Supremo who is now lodged at Delhi’s Tihar Jail put efforts to unite all political parties to stand against Delhi’s attempt to dilute the special status of state Jammu and Kashmir.
On July 31 last year Er Rashid while addressing a press conference organized by Peoples United Front (PUF) – an amalgam of Rashid led AIP and Shah Faesal led JKPM urged Omar Abdullah of the National Conference to convene an all-party meet to defend JK’s special status.
Rashid told, “We know NC, PDP, and PC are responsible for the present mess Kashmir is in. However, this is not the time for the blame game.” At the time PUF also launched a signature campaign to defend the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was after Er. Rashid who called all the political leaders for a meeting, they (JKNC and JKPDP) then took initiative and called the meeting at Abdullah’s residence” senior AIP leader Firdous Baba Said.
AIP is dismayed over the role of Gupkar Declaration signatories as the party has not been invited to take part in a meeting that was conducted on Thursday.
“When there were speculations of Delhi’s plan to fiddle with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir it was our party that called All Party’s Meet to formulate joint strategy, to fight Delhi anti-Kashmir plan,” said the AIP leader.
With the release of Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, more than a year later of dilution of Article 370, that granted Jammu and Kashmir Special status and its division into Two Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Member Parliament and National Conference Patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah called All Party’s Meeting at his Gupkar residence on 16 Oct this year. No one from AIP was invited to attend the meeting.
As per sources many leaders of political party’s other than JKNC were called to attend the meeting. Dr. Farooq met politicians and had a threadbare discussion on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
It was unanimously decided to widen acceptance of the ‘Gupkar Declaration’ among all the sections in Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh.
The amalgam that is “meant to fight” for restoration of pre 5 August position of Jammu and Kashmir has been named as “People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration”
The meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference Awami National Conference, Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement, and CPIM’s Jammu and Kashmir leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami. Congress who was part of the “Gupkar Declaration” signed on 4 August last year skipped the meeting.
Experts suggest that Congress didn’t participate in the meeting as Elections in Bihar are very near and Congress cannot bear to take a stand Nationalists are opposing.
Experts further have the opinion that the “Gupkar Declaration” is being reported in bad taste by mainstream Media that has given rise to an unabated opposition across India for them.
A closed-door meeting was held among all the participants for more than one and a half hours and ended with a presser of 2 minutes. Participants didn’t receive questions from a galaxy of media present at the presser.
Sources informed that during a closed-door meeting at Abdullah’s Gupkar residence, participants couldn’t reach a common minimum program for restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. “There were contradictions and counter-arguments in the meeting”
Sources privy to the development informed that JKPC’s Sajad lone had suggested them to make this constitutional fight more vibrant and peaceful by “resignation in protest” of JKPDP and JKNC’s Members of Parliament. “The suggestion was struck down by Dr. Abdullah,” informed sources.
However, we couldn’t authenticate the statement that is being attributed to Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference Chief Sajad Lone.
AIP is dismayed over the role of members of Gupkar Declaration.
Is it that AIP Supremo always spoke against host JKNC “historical failures” that has put Jammu and Kashmir in the present dilemma, they have not been invited to APM or Old mainstream political parties want to regain political hegemony in Jammu and Kashmir?
Rashid in his last Parliamentary election gave a befitting contest to JKNC’s Akbar Lone who remained the winner with getting total of 133,426 votes from the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency and remained 3rd in terms of securing votes.
Rashid secured a total of 102,168 votes i.e 1025 votes less than Sajad Lone led JKPC (103,193 votes ) as JKPC had a strong vote bank in North Kashmir’s Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency.
In Gupkar Declaration on 4 August 2019, it was unanimously resolved in the “Gupkar Declaration” that all the parties would be united in their resolve to protect and defend the identity, autonomy, and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir against all attacks and onslaughts whatever. It was also resolved that the parties participating in the meeting resolved to seek an audience with the president and the Prime Minister of India and the leaders of other Political parties to appraise them of the current situation and make an appeal to them to safeguard the legitimate interests of the people of state Jammu and Kashmir concerning the guarantees were given to the state by the constitution of India.
This didn’t happen because hours after Gupkar Declaration was passed all the signatories and other political leaders were detained by the then Governor administration during nocturnal raids.
Days before an All-party meeting was called at Gupkar, Er Rashid was called by NIA to Delhi in a case registered against him due to which he could not attend the meeting. It has been more than a year of imprisonment for Er Rashid
“Just a few political leaders spoke for release of Er Rashid. He is not a convict but accused in the case and we believe that he will get justice from Hon’ble Court,” Firdous Baba claimed.
He is skeptical about the sincerity of members of the Gupkar declaration as he alleges that they have been left out because they (Gupkar declaration Members) know that AIP is a party that doesn’t know to compromise for personal interests. “This might be the reason for not inviting us.”
“We seek complete restoration of what happened on August 5 last year and also stand by our Party’s Manifesto of resolution of “Kashmir Issue” as per the wishes and aspiration of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Baba Said.
When asked if the August 5 decision is not revoked before the conduct of upcoming assembly elections will AIP contest elections. Firdous said that they are democrats and believe in the system and will not give up fighting for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that were snatched on August 5 2019 as of now. “If Er Rashid is not released we will file his nomination from the jail as he is accused in the case, not convicted so we have right to file his nomination and will contest election from there. It is a fight for our people and we will continue to fight it whatever the circumstances will be.”
