Gupkar alliance to attend meet with PM Modi

Srinagar, June 22 (HS): Ahead of a much-hyped all-party meeting with Prime Minister, Narinder Modi, Jammu and Kashmir’s Gupkar Alliance, led by veteran politician Farooq Abdullah said they will take part in meeting with PM. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, NC, Chief Farooq Abdullah, CPM leader, Tarigami among several leaders participated in the second meeting of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to discuss the Centre’s invitation for an all-party meeting with the Prime Minister. “Mehbooba-ji, Md Tarigami sahib and I will attend the all-party meeting called by PM. We hope to keep our agenda before PM and HM (Home Minister), later brief media in Delhi and here” Dr Farooq Abdullah told media after meeting in Srinagar. “All those leaders invited will go to meet PM Modi, as every leader has been invited separately and there is no fixed agenda of the meeting. We can speak to any issue, but our demands are quite clear and everyone knows about that.” He added. The Gupkar Alliance is a seven-party alliance of mainstream parties, formed to campaign for the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. PDP, Chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “We are not against dialogue, but we want government should begin confidence-building measures. We want government should release political prisoners and others or to take them back to Jammu and Kashmir.” CPI (M) leader Taregami said, “People’s Alliance for Gupkar will highlight the core issues with big leadership for welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.” Several former Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of J&K have been invited to the meeting. The meeting is being seen as an outreach from New Delhi for the beginning of a fresh political process in J&K ever since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5th, 2019.