Pandit community extends support to Gupkar Declaration

SRINAGAR — A delegation of Kashmiri Pandit entrepreneurs on Thursday called on National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah here and extended its support to Gupkar Declaration, a party spokesperson said.

Abdullah, who is also a Member of Parliament, assured his party’s full support to the Kashmiri Pandit community.

“A delegation of Kashmiri Pandit entrepreneurs called on the party president at his residence. Among other issues, the delegation extended its support to Gupkar Declaration,” the spokesperson said.

All the pro-India political parties including Congress in J&K demanded roll back of August 5, 2019 decision which led to the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile State of J&K into two Union territories – Ladakh and J&K.

The demand was raised in a joint statement issued by National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Indian National Congress (INC), Peoples Conference (PC), CPI (Marxist), and Awami National Conference (ANC).

“We are committed to strive for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, the constitution of J&K and the restoration of the State and any division of the State is unacceptable to us. We unanimously reiterate that there can be ‘nothing about us without us’,” reads the joint statement, which was signed by Farooq Abdullah of NC, Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress, Sajad Lone of PC, M Y Tarigami of CPI (M), and Muzaffar Shah of ANC.

All these five political parties were the signatories of Gupkar Declaration of August 4, 2019, which unanimously resolved that “all the parties would be united in their resolve to protect and defend identity, autonomy and special status of the J&K against all attacks and onslaughts whatsoever.”

The meeting was convened at Srinagar MP Farooq Abdullah’s residence on Gupkar Road, which is how the name of the document came to be known.