BJP’s development claims bunch of lies: PAGD
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 26: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today said his party will contest elections whenever they are held in Jammu and Kashmir but remained critical of the ongoing Delimitation exercise.
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He was speaking after the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), comprising five mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, met at his residence here to discuss the fallout of the draft recommendations of the Delimitation Commission.
“We will fight the elections, there is no doubt about it. We are not going to run away from it but these (draft recommendation of Delimitation Commission) are the things which pain us,” Abdullah told reporters.
He reiterated his charge that the exercise was done to benefit the BJP with the ultimate aim of legitimising the revocation of Article 370 by the Centre in 2019.
Abdullah, who heads the PAGD, said the BJP was hoping that it can win the maximum number of seats in the Assembly after the Delimitation.
“They want to pass a resolution in the Assembly that whatever they did in August 2019 has been accepted. I am sure they will then take it to Supreme Court and say it has been done.
“Otherwise, what was the need for a Delimitation Commission here when it was agreed that the entire country would undergo the exercise in 2026? Why was Jammu and Kashmir targeted?” he said.
The former Chief Minister said the elections are the basis of democracy and the ”first thing in that democratic situation is the Delimitation Commission’s report”.
“What they (Delimitation Commission) have done is very unfortunate… Look what they have done, one constituency I will tell you about is Anantnag. How is the Member of Parliament elected from Rajouri going to look after the areas on this side in Anantnag or how is the MP elected from Anantnag going to look after the areas in Poonch and Rajouri. This is just one instance,” he said.
Abdullah questioned the claims that the delimitation exercise was aimed at bringing the people together and carve out constituencies in such a manner that it’s easy for the people to have their cases projected.
“It does not seem that the Delimitation Commission has done that. It has further alienated the people,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) today rolled out a white paper on the BJP’s claims post revocation of Article 370 on development, peace, jobs and investments, are nothing but a “bunch of lies” and it challenged BJP to counter the alliance on facts.
The alliance also termed the Delimitation Commission’s proposals as “unconstitutional” stating that “everything is being done under Re-organisation Act which itself is illegal.”
Addressing a press conference at Gupkar residence of PAGD president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Alliance spokesman M Y Tarigami reiterated its stand that rolling back of Article 370 is unconstitutional and Re-organisation Act is illegal.
“We continue to stick to our stand and Re-organisation Act is unconstitutional and illegal. We continue to stay that August 5, 2019 decision of rolling back Article 370 is unconstitutional. A historic State of J&K was sliced into two halves was nothing but a humiliation for every single citizen of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” Tarigami said. He added that Article 370 was rolled back amid strict lockdown, internet gag and huge deployment of security forces.
“Internet was even snapped in Jammu,” he said.
PAGD president Dr Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, ANC vice president Muzaffar Shah and other members including Justice Hasnain Masoodi were also present at the press conference.
Tarigami said that they were never against Delimitation as it was already agreed to have the exercise in 2026. “But this all is being done under Re-organisation Act, which itself is unconstitutional. Now Delimitation is taking place without Ladakh and seven seats are being increased in J&K-one in Kashmir and six in Jammu,” he said, adding that “basic parameters for Delimitation is population based on census, topography and accessibility but all these parameters were thrown to the wind.
He said PAGD fails to understand why seven seats were increased and why not one or nine. “We appeal to the people of India to listen to their conscience and understand the pain of the people of J&K,” he added.
Stating that claims of Naya Kashmir made by India is based on falsehood and deceit and BJP is doing things at its will by destroying the “historic India.”
“It is not new Kashmir the foundation of which was laid by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. The foundation set by Sheikh ended autocratic rule and rights were given to the real owners of land and also to the farmers,” Tarigami said. “J&K was the only State and first State where education was taken up to the University level and made free for all.” He, however, said under BJP’s new Kashmir narrative entails UAPA, PSA and arrests besides gaging every single voice that objects to its policies.
“Whatever happened on August 5, 2019 was a forced decision. Don’t misconstrue silence of Kashmiris, Jammuites and Ladakhis as acceptance of August 5, 2019 decisions,” Tarigami said.
“Article 370 was a bridge between India and people of J&K under the constitution of India. Rolling back special status also hit the relation made at the point when J&K people acceded with India. Revocation of Article 370 was an assault on the Constitution of India and J&K’s identity. Tomorrow, Bengal and Tamil Nadu will become another Kashmir.”
Tarigami urged India’s civil society to listen to the woes of people. “In the white paper, we have clarified that whether Article 370 can be rolled back, whether Article 35 A can be removed,” he said. “We challenge the J&K administration and the BJP Government to counter our white paper with its own white paper. We challenge the BJP Government on providing jobs, investment and development.”
He said that terming real estates an investment can be gauged from the fact how real estate is suffering at all-India level. “What real estate are you talking? Tell us how many youth from Jammu have got jobs post Article 370 revocation let alone Kashmir,” he said. “We will invite all MPs of the Parliament for a discussion and will also send copies to the President of India.”
He appealed to people of J&K irrespective of their affiliations to understand the nature of assault imposed on J&K. “This assault has become a poison which can reach Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Punjab and other States. We appeal Indian intelligentsia, civil society, press and all in one to understand the pain of Kashmiris,” Tarigami said, adding that not just BJP ideology people live in India but there are lakhs of conscious people too.
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