J&K Congress President Ghulam Ahmad Mir skipped two alliance meetings. (File)
Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir Congress said on Saturday that there should be a call to participate in the Peoples Alliance Declaration for Gupkar (PAGD) after consultations with the central party leadership, even as it claimed that ‘it was necessary to have a common platform to fight. for the rights of the people of the old state.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), who was a signatory of the “Gupkar Declaration” on August 4 last year – a day before the Center revoked Jammu’s special status. -Kashmir granted under Article 370 of the Constitution – skipped two meetings of the alliance, which recently took a formal form.
Mr Mir said that if he did not feel well when the first alliance meeting was held on October 15, the second on October 24 was called at short notice and he was not in Srinagar. .
Addressing reporters at party headquarters here after paying floral tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the occasion of her 36th death anniversary, whom Congress observed as “Kisan Adhikar Diwas”, Mr. Mir said the JKPCC would consult with the central party leadership on the matter and make a decision after that.
“I didn’t feel good when the first meeting was held. The second meeting was called at short notice. Being a national party, Congress needs to discuss these things with its central leadership. When I was told about the meeting, only three hours before, I was not even in Srinagar, ”he said.
Mr Mir said he had asked to postpone the PAGD meeting because the central leadership of Congress was busy with the Bihar polls.
“I told them to postpone the meeting until November 10, as we had to take over the central leadership of Congress, which was busy with the Bihar polls, but they continued. So it was not possible for me to attend this meeting on this. day, ”he said.
Stating that all signatories of the “Gupkar Declaration” have common concerns regarding the decisions taken by the Center on August 5 last year, Mir said there may be differences in the intensity of the language “used while fighting for the cause,” but the basic concerns are the same “.
“When the next meeting takes place, I will discuss the matter with the party’s political planning group in Kashmir and whatever senior leadership decides, I will follow that direction,” he said.
Apparently referring to the controversial remarks by PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti on the national flag, the congressional leader said that although it is a political fight for the people of the old state, “it should not seem, in no language, that we are fighting personal battles with other locals “.
In his first press conference after his release from detention, Mufti said that members of the PDP would not hoist the national flag unless they were allowed to hoist the flag of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Regarding amendments to land laws, which allow foreigners to purchase land in Union territory, Mir said it was “yet another betrayal with the people of Jammu and Cashmere”.
“They (center) had said this on the floor of Parliament that the land and labor rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be protected. But they backed down on their own promises. condemn and will fight it, “he said.
Mr Mir said that the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are united in their fight to repeal these laws and that there is a need for a common platform to fight for their rights.
“There could have been differences of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir on decisions made previously, but I am glad that there is unity on this issue and that people are rejecting these laws. other like-minded parties should work on a common platform to fight for the repeal of these laws as it concerns the emotions of the people of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh – whether they are Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists “, he said.
Asked about the party’s views on the law allowing the military to declare any area as “strategic,” Mir said such measures are not good for the spirit of democracy.
“Giving direct authority to the military or other defense forces in any way is not good in a democratic country. The military supports the civilian administration, we, the civilian administration, do not are not under the control of the army, therefore such measures are not good for the spirit of democracy and we have already raised voices against it in various forums, ”he said.
