Lok Shakti

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PAGD meeting: Doors of talks with Center not closed: Farooq Abdullah

Dr Farooq Abdullah, president of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), said on Wednesday that no doors are closed for talks with the Centre. “If they invite us, we will take a timely decision,” Abdullah said in Srinagar, where coalition constituents NC, PDP, CPI(M) and Awami National Conference met after more than six months. Responding to a question whether the group would consider talking to the Center regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, “We have not closed any door or option.” He said, “Police is increasing the pressure here” and “I will appeal to the Lt Governor to stop these detentions or people will turn against them that they will not be able to handle it”. The NC President said that since the PAGD was formed on August 5, 2019 in the backdrop of the constitutional changes effected in J&K,

It is therefore “determined” to stick to its position in the Gupkar Declaration. The PAGD has not held any formal talks with the Center except Mehbooba Mufti’s letter to PM Narendra Modi in May demanding the release of all political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir. This comes after Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chief Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai died in a hospital in Jammu while in custody. The alliance has appointed CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami as the new spokesperson of the group as the post was lying vacant after the departure of Sajjad Lone. Mehbooba Mufti said the alliance met after a long time to discuss the situation. “The matter is going on in the court but now it is not being taken up because of Covid but it was not being taken up earlier also. We met after a while and we just wanted to touch base. “.