"Gupkar alliance was unique, sad that it has been scattered": PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti
Mar 08, 2024
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 8 : People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday expressed disappointment at the discontent prevailing in the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and said that without any consultations with PDP, National Conference went on to declare that it will fight from three Lok Sabha seats.
PDP chief said that it is sad to see the way the "Gupkar alliance has been scttaered".
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti said, "Omar Abdullah himself said that they're not in the alliance. We wanted The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to continue but everyone knows who ended this PAGD. We will talk to Congress as we are in the INDIA alliance and see how to go forward."
Mufti further added that Jammu and Kashmir has become a laboratory for whatever is happening in the country and parties should have tried to remain united in the valley.
"PAGD was a democratic and unique alliance but the way it has been scattered is very disappointing. Jammu and Kashmir is a laboratory for whatever is happening in the country that is facing a big challenge and hence we should have made a collective effort. We (PDP) made a lot of efforts, but he (Omar Abdullah) declared that they'll contest all three seats, without any consultation from us. They have made PAGD a joke. PAGD was the lost hope for people," she said.
Responding to the remarks made by NC leader Omar Abdullah that " a party (PDP) who secured third position in 2019 Lok Sabha elections is trying to claim stakes on some of the Lok Seats", Mufti said that even Farooq Abdullah lost Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
"So does this mean that he can never fight for election again? Omar Abdullah also lost an election earlier. Victories and losses are part of it. This does not mean that one cannot fight elections," he said.
Earlier today, NC leader Omar Abdullah said that it is not the sole responsibility of the National Conference to follow "coalition dharma".
"On their raising day (PDP), they target NC. What type of coalition Dharma is this? Why don't you ask them when they target NC on social media handles? It is not the sole responsibility of National Conference to follow coalition dharma," he said.
The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is an alliance between the several political parties in Jammu and Kashmir campaigning for autonomy for the region by restoring special status along with Article 35A of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was founded in year 2020.
