The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — As the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir heats up ahead of parliamentary elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly pushing for Mehbooba Mufti to contest the Pulwama-Srinagar parliamentary seat, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Amidst escalating tensions within the political sphere, particularly regarding the fate of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), the PDP's move to nominate Mufti for the crucial parliamentary seat signifies a bold assertion of its position within the coalition.

In a bid to dismantle the PAGD and sideline the PDP, the National Conference has adamantly opposed any potential seat-sharing agreement with its coalition partner, intensifying the rift between the two parties.

Recent reports suggest that PDP activists hailing from Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, and Srinagar have rallied behind the party president, urging her to lead the charge in the parliamentary elections and amplify their voices on the national stage.

A leader within the PDP, speaking to the news agency KDC, emphasized the party's substantial support base in Pulwama and Shopian, underscoring the strategic significance of contesting the Pulwama-Srinagar seat. "Given our strong foothold in Pulwama and Shopian, securing victory in this constituency could prove decisive for the party," the leader remarked.

The PDP appears to be actively pursuing this strategy, leveraging its grassroots support and regional influence to bolster its electoral prospects amidst mounting challenges and political discord.

SRINAGAR — Petitioners, who had petitioned against the abrogation of Article 370, are mulling to file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

On December 11 this month, the Supreme Court upheld the Government of India’s decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and senior CPIM leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami told the news agency KNT that all the petitioners and those who backed them are in discussion and hopefully, a review petition will be lodged in the Supreme Court against its recent verdict.

In response to a question, Tarigami said, “It’s not only about the PAGD leaders but also about those who were petitioners and who had petitioned against the Centre’s action. Everything is being evaluated and hopefully, a review petition will be filed in the apex court,” he said.

“We are seeking justice and want the apex court to reconsider its decision. The abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an assault on the people of the region,” he said.

Tarigami said that after discussing the matter with legal luminaries, it was felt that there is room for a review petition before the apex court.

People can differ but judgment was unanimous: Justice SK Kaul

The unanimous judgment on Kashmir was the opinion of five judges and people can differ, Justice (Retd) SK Kaul, who was part of the constitution bench that delivered the verdict, has said.

While talking to a media outlet, he said, "I believe that if five judges have taken a unanimous decision, then at least it is the opinion of these judges that what was done was correct and in accordance with the law.”

The verdict of the five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud earlier this month, had disappointed in Kashmir Valley.

Speaking about the issue, which he insisted deserved to be put to rest, Justice Kaul, who retired on December 25, said the issues which came before the bench could be broadly divided into two questions -- whether Article 370 was a temporary provision and whether the Centre had stuck to the correct legal procedure.

Whether the "shell" of the "slightly different procedure" used to assimilate Jammu and Kashmir to India should stay or go was a political decision, Justice Kaul said. Now the decision for full assimilation has been taken, it was the "correct legal position," he said.

"On the question of process, the court took its call looking at the ground reality -- that there was no state assembly at the time and the power rested with the Centre. The people are entitled to a different opinion of it, so what," he said.

On whether it was a temporary position, all five judges had agreed it was, going by the incorporation and the chapter where it was made.

Asked how he felt about the situation since he felt the pain of Kashmiri Pandits -- the judge is from the erstwhile state -- he said it was essential to acknowledge that "there is something wrong".

Citing the South African model, based not on retribution or revenge but an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and a system of apology, he said it was what people needed to move on.

"There is a legal aspect and a societal aspect. There should be an end to this conflict. 4.5 lakh people were compelled to migrate. Their story was never told. If we have to proceed further, it is necessary to acknowledge there is something wrong. A person who has felt the pain 30 years ago, should feel that someone recognises their pain," Justice Kaul said.

On December 11, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the Centre's decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

JAMMU — People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) will hold its second meeting at the Jammu residence of the National Conference president and Lok Sabha member Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday in an attempt to garner the support of more political and social parties against the inclusion of non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir’s electoral roll.

Senior CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami, who is also PAGD’s convener and a spokesperson told the news agency KNO that the agenda of the meeting is already in the public domain.

“There is no clarity on Chief Electoral Officer statement regarding 25 thousand new voters and right to ordinarily residence. "We will get first-hand information from party colleagues who recently attended the All Party Meeting in Jammu,” the spokesperson said.

“We believe that inclusion of non-locals in the electoral roll is not required as many states reserved rights for native only but it seems that government unnecessary trying to divide between non-locals and natives," he said.

Tarigami said that the meeting will take place under the leadership of PAGD president Farooq Abdullah at his Jammu residence and almost everyone including former minister and president Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party Choudhary Lal Singh, Harsh Dev Singh of AAP, Balwant Mankotia group, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s fraction were invited in the meeting.

Tarigami maintained that each and every section and political social group is invited except the BJP. “We did not invite BJP, because it is part of the system,” he said.

“All-party meeting is part of the ongoing consultations to come out with a joint strategy to stand united against any move to include outsiders in the electoral rolls in a bid to influence election results,” Tarigami said.

This will be the second time that the PAGD is holding its meeting on the issue. Earlier, the alliance had convened a similar meeting in Srinagar on August 22, which was attended by the Congress, Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal (Mann), besides all of its constituents.

PAGD, an amalgam of five political parties – NC, PDP, CPI(M), CPM and Awami National Conference is campaigning for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status within the Indian Constitution.

The BJP has been critical of the PAGD and has accused the NC, Peoples Democratic Party and other parties of spreading propaganda to poison the minds of the people over the issue of inclusion of non-local voters in the revised electoral rolls.

The controversy erupted after Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar said the Union territory is likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls, which are being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration, however, had issued a clarification, saying the reports were a misrepresentation of facts by vested interests and the increase in numbers will be due to the voters who would attain the age of 18 years by October 1, 2022.

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.

SRINAGAR — National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that the People's Alliance of Gupkar Declaration will contest elections together in Jammu and Kashmir.

"PAGD will contest elections together in Jammu and Kashmir," he said in reply to a query about their stand regarding the upcoming elections.

"If elections took place during the 2014 floods, why not now," Abdullah questioned. "Almighty will get us out of trouble. Our faith must be right," he said.

"We want peace, we want to get out of hatred. We want to move forward in brotherhood. May Allah guide those who are against brotherhood," the NC chief added.

About "Har Ghar Tiranga", Abdullah said that through decrees, the tricolour can never raise. "The tricolour should be in the heart, then it will matter," he said.

About Amarnath Yatra, the NC president said that Kashmiris have always welcomed pilgrims.

SRINAGAR — Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Wednesday said that life imprisonment given to Yasin Malik is unfortunate and a setback to the efforts for peace.

"We are afraid that this will further compound the uncertainties in the region and will only fuel more alienation and separatist feelings," PAGD spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

"NIA Court has delivered its verdict but not justice," PAGD said, adding that the triumphalism being displayed by the BJP and the corporate media is bound to prove counterproductive.

“Meanwhile, we suggest that Yaseen Malik should avail all legal opportunities to contest this verdict,” PAGD said.

SRINAGAR — People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration on Sunday urged Kashmiri Pandits not to leave Kashmir, adding that they share equal pain and will together bear this tragedy.

The appeal by the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) came after the conglomerate met Jammu and Kashmiri Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here.

The meeting was over the issue of security of Kashmiri Pandit employees in the aftermath of the killing of Rahul Bhatt which has sparked protests by community members.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the spokesperson of PAGD, M Y Tarigami said that the Valley is as much the home of Kashmiri Pandits as it is of Kashmiri Muslims.

Tarigami said that if Kashmiri Pandits want to leave Kashmir in the wake of Bhatt’s killing, then what about the families of slain Kashmiri Muslims. “If Rahul was killed, Riyaz was also killed. Where will Riyaz’s family and relatives go? You do not have to leave your home. This is your home, this is my home. We will bear this tragedy together and try to safeguard each other,” he said while referring to Kashmiri Pandits.

Tarigami said that PAGD raised the issue of the transfer of the employees to safer places. However, there is no possibility of their transfer outside Kashmir.

PAGD told a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits who visited them that they will not let them leave Kashmir and today, LG also agreed to that in the meeting, Tarigami said, adding that the meeting with LG was useful and productive.

Tarigami further said that PAGD told Sinha that sufficient protection must be provided to the employees at their workplaces as well as wherever they live and all possible assistance be provided to them so that they live here with a sense of security.

SRINAGAR — Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Saturday decided to meet Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha to raise the demands of Kashmiri Pandits with regard to their safety and security in the Valley.

Talking to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the spokesman of the conglomerate, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, said that a group of Kashmiri Pandits met the constituents of PAGD including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Tarigami and Muzaffar Ahmad Shah today at the Gupkar residence of National Conference (NC) president.

"The Kashmiri Pandits discussed the security-related concerns with the conglomerate and even appraised them of leaving Kashmir," he said, adding that the PAGD members however told the delegation that Kashmir belongs to them also and leaving the home place is not a solution.

“There are genuine demands of Kashmiri Pandits as they feel unsafe even in the offices now,” he said.

Moreover, the PAGD spokesman said that the conglomerate has decided to meet Lieutenant Governor in this regard and has also requested an appointment so that the matter with regard to a secure environment for the Kashmiri Pandits will be discussed with him.

“There are tall claims from the government about normalcy in Kashmir, however, the situation on the ground is quite contrary,” he said.

SRINAGAR — National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that he would suggest that the PAGD should contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir jointly to keep away BJP and its A and B teams.

“This is my personal opinion. If someone asks me, I would suggest PAGD should go together in the polls ahead to keep BJP and its A and B teams away,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of the Youth Convention of National Conference at Party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subh here, as per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Omar said that though it was his personal opinion, the final decision lies with the PAGD itself.

About power cuts in Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadhan, Omar expressed his shock and stated that “it seems that we are deliberately being irritated.”

“I wonder why power remains on during the rest of the hours during day and night but not at the time of Sehri and Iftaar. You wake to have Sehri, there is no electricity and the same is the case when you have Iftaar. There is no electricity during Taraweeh prayers and when prayers are over, electricity is restored,” he said, adding that “it seems to be a deliberate attempt to disturb the people of Kashmir.”

On the Hijab, he said that it was a religious obligation and nobody has a right to interfere “in our religious matters”.