Farooq Abdullah, 83, was unanimously named group chairman
Srinagar:
A year after the flag and the state constitution of Jammu and Kashmir were removed, the historic new political bloc called the Popular Alliance adopted the old flag as a symbol to fight for the restoration of the special status of the ‘old state.
The new alliance got formal structure today with National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah becoming leader and People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti as vice chairman.
It is the first time that Kashmir’s main rivals have united to fight the center’s decision announced on August 5 last year.
“The symbol that floated on the secretariat will be the symbol of the alliance,” said Sajad Lone, spokesperson for the alliance and leader of the People’s Conference party.
He said the alliance parties had unanimously decided that Farooq Abdullah, 84, would be the chairman and vice chairman of Mehbooba Mufti.
“I want to tell you that it is bogus propaganda from the BJP that the PAGD (People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration) is anti-national. I want to tell them that is not true. There is no doubt that it’s anti-BJP but it’s not anti-national, ”Abdullah told reporters after the meeting.
The adoption of the old state flag as the banner of the alliance is seen as a strong symbolic gesture to convey political intent.
On Saturday, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti announced that she would not raise the national flag until the return of the flag of Jammu and Kashmir. The statement sparked major controversy. The BJP demanded that Mehbooba Mufti be charged with sedition.
Ms Mufti said her fight will not be limited to restoring Section 370 alone. She will fight for the resolution of the Kashmir problem even if she has to sacrifice her life.
Sajad Lone said the alliance will issue a white paper within a month on governance in Jammu and Kashmir in the year since the repeal of Section 370 and “expose lies and propaganda “of the BJP and how the Kashmiris have been slandered. .
“The white paper will not be rhetoric. It will be based on facts and figures to present reality to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and across the country … It feels like all the corruption is happening. ‘is produced in Jammu and Kashmir only, ”said Lone.
Responding to comments from New Delhi, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there was no chance the coalition would get what it wanted. “Section 370 will not be reinstated, revoking it was our commitment to the nation and the people appreciated it,” he said.
