Farooq Abdullah announces formation of 'People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration' in J&K: All you need to know

The NC chief convened a meeting at his residence for chalking out the future course of action on 'Gupkar Declaration'.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday announced the formation of 'People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration' in Jammu and Kashmir. The NC chief convened a meeting of the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir for chalking out the future course of action on 'Gupkar Declaration'.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was released from detention after 14 months on Tuesday, also attended the meeting.

"My father and I called on Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba to enquire about her well-being after her release from detention," NC vice president Omar Abdullah told reporters. He said the PDP leader has accepted the invitation for the meeting of signatories to the Gupkar Declaration on Thursday. "She has kindly accepted Farooq sahib's invitation to join a meeting of the Gupkar Declaration signatories tomorrow afternoon," Omar said.

The meeting was held at the residence of Abdullah with regard to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir which was revoked by the Centre in 2019. The alliance was formed for restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state as it existed before August 5, 2019, and also to initiate a dialogue between all stakeholders in the issue.

Abdullah said the leaders decided to formalise the alliance, that has been named 'Peoples' Alliance for Gupkar Declaration'. The National Conference president said the alliance will strive for the restoration of the constitutional position in respect of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before August 5 last year.

Briefing reporters after the nearly two-hour meeting, Abdullah said, "People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration favours initiation of dialogue between all stakeholders for resolution of JK issue. People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration aims to restore JK's constitutional status as it existed before August 5, 2019."

"We shall struggle for the restoration of what was snatched from Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Ours is a constitutional battle ... We would strive for the restoration of the constitution (with regard to Jammu and Kashmir) as it existed on August 5, 2019," he said.

Abdullah said the alliance also seeks a dialogue between all stakeholders for resolution of the issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. "We will be informing you about the future course of action in due course," he added.

He said the meeting congratulated the PDP president on her release from 14 months of detention which they said was "completely illegal and unjustified".

The meeting was also attended by Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, Peoples Movement leader Javaid Mir and CPIM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.

JKPCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir could not attend the meeting "due to medical reasons" A spokesperson of the party said Mir had conveyed his inability to attend the meeting to Farooq Abdullah as the Congress leader was advised by doctors to get himself medically examined including a COVID screening.

On August 4, 2019, all major political parties in Kashmir, except BJP, had met at the residence of Farooq Abdullah amidst uncertainty and tension in the erstwhile state as the Centre had rushed additional paramilitary forces there while asking all tourists including Amarnath pilgrims to leave the Valley as soon as possible.

The resolution at the end of the meet on August 4, 2019, a day before the Centre announced its decision of revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and split it into two Union territories, said the parties unanimously resolved that they would be united in their effort to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir against all attacks and onslaughts.

The joint statement issued by the political parties, expressing concern over the situation, came to be known as the Gupkar Declaration. The Centre revoked the special constitutional status of the state and also bifurcated it into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In a follow-up, the political parties had met again in August 2020 and vowed to fight for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.