New Delhi: National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah took strong offence to Pakistan’s admiration of the ‘Gupkar Declaration’, in which 6 political parties of Jammu and Kashmir vowed to fight against abrogation of Article 370 and pledged to get it restored.
In a strong retort to Pak, Farooq Abdullah said, “Let us make it clear that we are not anyone’s puppets.”
“Pakistan has always abused mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir but now suddenly they like us. Let me make it clear that we are not anyone’s puppets, neither New Delhi’s nor of anyone across the border. We are answerable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will work for them,” the former Chief Minister of J&K said.
In response to a question on cross-border terrorism, Abdullah said, “I would urge Pakistan to stop sending armed men into Kashmir. We want an end to the bloodshed in our state. All political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are committed to fight for our rights peacefully, including for what was unconstitutionally snatched away from us on August 5 last year”.
At the same time, the NC leader urged both India and Pakistan to resume their dialogue “for everyone’s greater good”.
“Our people are being killed on both sides of the Line of Control every time there are ceasefire violations. For God’s sake bring a halt to that”, he said.
What six parties said in Gupkar Declaration
In a declaration issued on August 22, six prominent mainstream political parties came together for restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after describing as “unconstitutional”.
“We are committed to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the Constitution of J&K and the restoration of the state and any division of the state is unacceptable to us. We unanimously reiterate that there can be “nothing about us without us,” NC president Farooq Abdullah, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, JKPCC chief GA Mir, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami, JKPCC leader Sajad Gani Lone and ANC leader Muzaffar Shah said in a joint statement.
The joint statement is known as “Gupkar Declaration-2”, being second declaration on Article 370 issued after meetings held at the Gupkar Road residence of Abdullah which clearly asks the Centre that “there can be nothing about us without us”, an indication that the Centre has to take into confidence the people before implementing any constitutional change.