JAMMU, Aug 29:
In an attempt to garner the support of more political and social parties against the inclusion of “non-locals” in Jammu and Kashmir’s electoral roll, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is holding an All-Party Meeting here next month.
Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami today said the meeting will take place under the leadership of PAGD president Farooq Abdullah at his Jammu residence and is scheduled for 2 pm on September 10.
“The All-Party Meeting is part of the ongoing consultations to come out with a joint strategy to stand united against any move to include outsiders in the electoral rolls in a bid to influence election results,” Tarigami, who is also PAGD’s convener and spokesperson, said.
The alliance had convened a similar meeting in Srinagar on August 22, which was attended by the Congress, Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal (Mann), besides all of its constituents.
However, the Sajjad Lone-led People’s Conference and Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party had stayed away.
“Any decision to include non-locals in electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir is unacceptable and will be contested by all means, including in court,” Abdullah, the National Conference (NC) president and a former Chief Minister, had said after the meeting.
Abdullah, who chaired that meeting, had said they were united against the move to extend the voting right to “outsiders” as it would rob Jammu and Kashmir of its identity.
“The State’s identity is about to end. The Dogras, Kashmiris, Paharis or Gujjars or Sikhs, who reside here, will lose their identity. The Assembly will be in the hands of the outsiders. We all oppose it,” he had said.
PAGD, an amalgam of five political parties – NC, PDP, CPI(M), CPM and Awami National Conference – is campaigning for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status within the Indian Constitution. (PTI)
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