Prominent politicians to attend PAGD meeting at Farooq’s residence in Jammu      

Jammu: Although the agenda is not announced yet, the prominent politicians of Jammu region are likely to attend the 2^nd meeting of  People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in Jammu at National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah’s residence

“On December 21 Gupkar Alliance is holding its second meeting at the residence of the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah where all the leaders including some political activists of Jammu are likely to attend the meeting,” sources privy to the PAGD divulged.

“There is no agenda for the meeting and the leaders of the constituents of the PAGD will meet to hold deliberations as to how Jammu can be persuaded for the cause,” they added.

The sources further said that the PAGD has realized indispensability of the involvement of Jammu and Ladakh regions.

“The successful agitation by the farmers has made PAGD to re-think its strategy and an exercise has been initiated to take Jammu and Ladakh regions along,” they added.

Gupkar Alliance has moved the Supreme Court challenging revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A.

“The directions to bring Jammu on board have come from chairman of the PAGD, Dr Farooq Abdullah. We know that it would be very difficult to persuade the stakeholders in Jammu including the civil society, political workers and opinion makers but there are some commonality amongst us where we agree,” said a leader of the PAGD.

He said, “restoration of statehood and exclusive rights to lands and jobs are equally demanded by people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. So, there is a hope.”

On December 13 CPI (M) leader and spokesman of the Gupkar Alliance had told media that the PAGD strongly wants to initiate dialogue with members of the civil society in Jammu.

“As far as we are concerned, including PAGD and other constituents, there is a strong feeling that there will be no forward movement without representation from Jammu, or without any credible dialogue with the cross section of people including civil society in Jammu,’’ Tarigami had said.

It may be recalled here that Dr Farooq Abdullah had recently called on Panthers Party patron Prof Bhim Singh dropping enough hints of reaching out to the politicians in Jammu.