Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers and members of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to point out that they are not a “gang” and state that “irony died a million deaths since it is BJP itself that violates the Constitution day in and day out”, a little after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the PAGD.
The Congress Party, on it’s part, reacted to the slew of aspersions cast by the Home Minister against them and say that they are not a part of the alliance. The party also informed that they will be fighting the District Development Council elections in a democratic way.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 17 November, attacked the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) – a conglomerate of mainstream Kashmir parties for the reversal of constitutional changes made in J&K on 5 August last year – and labelled it the "Gupkar Gang" that wants "foreign forces to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir" and insults India's Tricolour.
"Congress and the Gupkar Gang want to take J&K back to the era of terror and turmoil. They want to take away rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they're being rejected by the people everywhere," Shah said in one of his tweets, going on to question if Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi support the moves of the 'gang' and asking them to make their stand clear.
"Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain an integral part of India. Indian people will no longer tolerate an unholy ‘global gathbandhan’ against our national interest. Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it," the home minister said in another tweet.
About the Gupkar Alliance
The Gupkar Alliance was given a formal structure late last month, with National Conference President Farooq Abdullah appointed as the its president, and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti as the Vice President.
Abdullah had then said they were not anti-national, but anti-BJP.
“It’s not an anti-national jamaat, our aim is to ensure that the rights of people of J&K and Ladakh are restored. Attempts of dividing us in the name of religion will fail. It’s not a religious fight,” he had said.
Earlier in October, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah had announced the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, with the aim to restore J&K’s Constitutional status as it existed before 5 August last year.
With this, the political parties in Kashmir gave a formal shape to their alliance formed after the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir last year.
‘Well Said, Amit Shah ji’
Finance Minister Niramal Sitharaman took to Twitter on Tuesday to congratulate the Home Minister on his remarks, and allege that the Congress party “have exposed their continuing tendance to associate with forces which seek external help to upset India.”
Arunachal Pradesh MP Kiren Rijiju on his part claimed that the Congress Party was supporting the so called “Gupkar Gang”.
‘Love Jihad, Tukde Tukde, Gupkar Gang Dominates Political Discourse Now’
PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, on her part, said that “irony died a million deaths since it is BJP itself that violates the constitution day in and day out.”
Further, Mufti said: “Love jihad, tukde tukde and now Gupkar Gang dominates the political discourse instead of issues like rising unemployment and inflation.”
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that he can understand the Home Minister’s frustration as they were not expecting that the People’s Alliance will not fight the elections. He also alleged that all those who oppose BJP’s ideology are labelled “corrupt and anti-national”, and pointed out that they are not a “gang” but a “legitimate political alliance”.
Fraud Has Become Way of Modi Govt: Cong
In a press statement, the Congress General Secretary reacted to Amit Shah’s remarks and said that the Congress party is not a part of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.
Surjewala further attacked the BJP government and said:
“Spreading lies, fraud and creating new illusions have become the way of the Modi government. It’s a shame that Home Minister Amit Shah is keeping aside the responsibility of the national security and is making false, misleading and mischievous statements on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Further, Surjewala informed that the Congress is fighting the District Development Council elections “in a democratic manner” and said:
“The Indian National Congress favours democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir.”
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