Opposition leaders meet in Jammu, discuss J&K situation, polls

SRINAGAR: More than fifteen leaders and representatives of various regional and national opposition political parties who met in Jammu on Tuesday to discuss varied issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir were of the unanimous view that not only are the democratic values under threat but the Constitution, the supreme law of the country, virtually stands suspended in the erstwhile state.

They decided to hold a peaceful protest in Jammu on October 10 to show to the countrymen that the people of J&K are not happy with the present situation. One of the main issues discussed threadbare at the meet is the Centre’s “delaying tactics’ in holding elections in J&K, the sources said.

Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah who presided over the meeting told reporters, “The constitution is suspended and the democratic rights of the people of J&K are under attack. We all have decided to stage a peaceful protest on October 10 and are seeking necessary permission from the government through the divisional commissioner.”

Elaborating, CPIM leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said, “We will come out on the streets peacefully in this historic city on October 10 to send a message to the people of India. We have no hope of this government delivering justice. But we are optimistic about the crores of people of India understanding our pain. They will stand by us, for our rights, in this difficult time.”

Mr. Abdullah said that the protest will not be against any particular person or party, but against the “undemocratic and unconstitutional” measures taken by the government since August 5, 2019 when the Centre revoked the special status granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to J&K and split the state into two Union territories.

Mr. Tarigami said, “The people of J&K continue to be deprived of their democratic rights. We see it as an anti-national political agenda. It has political ramifications. It will damage the interests of the country.”

Those others who attended the meeting included PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, her party’s general secretary Amreek Singh Reen, JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani, party’s working president Raman Bhalla, Awami National Conference Senior Vice President Muzaffar Shah, NC provincial president, Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta, party MP Hasnain Masoodi, Dogra Sadar Sabha chief Gulchain Singh Charak, J&K Shiv Sena (UBT) president Manish Sahni, Mission Statehood president Sunil Dimple and former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman. Representatives of various other parties, including the CPI, Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Internationalist Democratic Party were also present.

Asked why former chief minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was not invited to attend the meet, Mr. Abdullah said, “His is a Sarkari jamaat (pro-government organization); hence we decided not to invite him. That’s it”.

When told that the BJP has dubbed the opposition alliance as a ‘sinking ship,’ the NC leader quipped, “Why don’t they also get on this ship so that they too are drowned.”

He said that the next course of action of the opposition parties will be decided after the proposed protest on October 10.