PAGD’s office will never be shut: Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR — President People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that the decision on fighting Assembly elections jointly or alone by the constituent members will be taken once the polls are announced in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The office of PAGD will never be closed,” Farooq Abdullah, who is also the president of the National Conference and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, told reporters here, according to the news agency GNS.

Asked about the National Conference’s provincial committee resolution regarding contesting elections on all 90 seats in the Assembly polls, he said, “True. It is a democratic party. A democratic party can pass a resolution but the final decision will be taken once elections are announced.”

Asked about his party claiming unfair treatment by some of the constituents of the PAGD targeting it through “statements, audio jingles and speeches”, Farooq said: “Statements will come. Tolerance and patience are important. One should have patience. If you cannot be patient, you won’t be able to do anything for people,” he said, adding, “Remember two things. One is patience and the other is a readiness to sacrifice.”

Asked what advice he has for his son and party’s vice president Omar Abdullah in whose presence National Conference’s provincial committee called for going alone in the Assembly polls, Farooq said, “I cannot advise Omar sahib.”

Farooq reiterated that the decision regarding contesting the elections jointly with the PAGD will be taken once the elections are announced. “The decision will be based while considering the situation at that time.”

The PAGD among others includes NC, PDP, the CPI(M) and Awami National Conference as constituents and the alliance had contested DDC polls together. It seeks restoration of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution as well as statehood to J&K as was the case before August 5, 2019.

The NC in a statement on Wednesday last had said that the participants present in the provincial meeting expressed “dismay over the recent statements, audio jingles and speeches made by some of the constituents of the PAGD, targeting JKNC. They felt that it does not contribute to the overall unity of the amalgam.”

“They denounced the unfair treatment meted out to JKNC in PAGD. The participants demanded immediate course correction from PAGD constituents,” the party spokesman had said in a statement to the news agency GNS.

The provincial committee members unanimously resolved that JKNC should prepare and fight all 90 Assembly seats, the spokesperson had said.