Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 17 called the alliance of leaders in Jammu and Kashmir as “Gupkar gang” and added that they were looking to get “foreign forces to intervene” in the Article 370 issue.
Attacking the alliance’s move to seek support from other countries, Shah claimed the “unholy global gathbandhan” was against the country’s national interest. In a series of tweets, Shah questioned Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on whether they support the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
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.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 17, 2020
What is Gupkar Alliance?
In October, a total of seven political parties in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) came together to announce the formation of an alliance, which they called the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). These seven parties: National Conference (NC), PDP, CPI, CPM, PC, JKPM, and ANC allied to restore Article 370 and thereby return J&K to its special status, which was revoked last year ensuing much debate.
Farooq Abdullah of the NC was elected as the Chairman of the PAGD, while PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti was made the Vice-Chairperson. Abdullah had earlier said that the alliance is an “anti-BJP” platform and not an “anti-national” one.
What is the Gupkar Declaration?
A day before the central government announced concerning Article 370 and revoking J&K’s special status, political parties in the state (barring the BJP) had met at Farooq Abdullah’s home in Srinagar, on Gupkar Road. Leaders from all parties then issued a joint statement in defense of Article 370, which is referred to as the “Gupkar Declaration”.
More than a year later, in October, the political leaders who had been detained for several months met again and resolved to fight legally and democratically for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The PAGD, with Farooq Abdullah as president and Mehbooba Mufti as the vice president, has already announced the seat-sharing arrangement for the District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held on December 4.
