PAGD to hold protests against the proposed draft delimitation commission

By: Musaib Iqbal MK

Srinagar

Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has decided to protest against the proposed draft of delimitation commission by virtue of which it has decided to give six seats to Jammu and one to Kashmir valley.

Although all the three MPs of National Conference who are associate members of the delimitation commission participated in the meeting, NC vice president in tweets has rejected the draft proposal of the commission and said that it was a politically motivated decision.

Earlier Mehbooba Mufti even before the draft had dubbed the delimitation commission as an exercise by the BJP to help the party in Jammu and divide the people of Jammu and Kashmir  on regional basis.

The PAGD has held the meeting in Jammu at the residence of Dr. Farooq Abdullah day after its MPs participated in the delimitation commission meeting and has decided to hold protests against any such move by the commission in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile KNO in its news report on Tuesday regarding the PAGD meeting has said in its report as follows.

The leaders of PAGD addressed a press conference at Jammu after holding a meeting at the residence of National Conference (NC) President Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

M Y Tarigami, spokesman of PAGD, said that abrogation of Article 35-A and 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was unconstitutional and step was taken without taking into confidence the stakeholders from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

“Everyone is aware that many among us have challenged reorganization act of Jammu and Kashmir In Supreme Court and Government of India should have avoided to go forward with this commission in a hurried rush as it is neither in national interest and not in the interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” PAGD leaders said.

“Unfortunately, the constitutional frame of delimitation including census have been ignored in proposal of delimitation commission,” they said, adding that the delimitation in J&K should be as per fresh census across country.

“There should be some criteria during delimitation as per population and laws meant for it should be followed in letter and spirit,” they said.

PAGD further claimed that NCs Dr. Farooq Abdullah and other members of commission reiterated in the meeting of commission that the proposal is not as per the wishes and interest of people and is just a step to create wedge on regional and community basis.

“This is part of agenda of BJP to divide people,” PAGD leaders said, saying that the draft if implemented is set to create further wedge between J&K and New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the PAGD leaders said that conglomerate will hold a peaceful protest on January 01 2022 in Kashmir against the proposal.

“PAGD leaders have decided to hold a protest on 1st January at 11AM against the proposals of delimitation commission which are unacceptable to us, all the people and all communities and we term it as divisive,” said leaders of PAGD in Jammu press conference.

With KNO inputs