Leader’s question his role after abrogation of Article 370
Srinagar, Aug 24: Due to sharp difference within the party over the role of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig after August 5 last year, when all mainstream leaders, including three former Chief Ministers—Mehbooba Mufti (PDP president), Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah– were arrested, the party meeting slated for Monday was cancelled.
However, some leaders claimed that the meeting called by former Deputy Chief Minister and one of the founder member of PDP Baig has been postponed as no permission was received from the administration which was necessary due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Party sources told UNI on Monday that majority leaders were of the opinion that until party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, detained since August 5, 2019, is not released there should be no political activity.
They said after the National Conference (NC) started political activities by organizing meeting of party leaders, senior PDP leader Nizamuddin Bhat had called meeting of party leaders at his residence on Sunday. The meeting of Bhat was cancelled after Baig called meeting on Monday at his residence.
However, sources said, some of the party leaders out rightly rejected the invitation questioning the role of Baig after August 5, 2019 when Centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides downgraded the state and divided it into two Union Territories (UT).
They alleged that Baig, who is also a supreme court lawyer, did nothing to raise his voice against the arrest of Mehbooba Mufti, presently detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) and other party leaders.
Sources said some of the leaders were critical of the statement of Baig at a press conference in Jammu on January 9 this year when he had said that Mehbooba’s provocative statement over Article 370 has resulted in downgrading J&K from a state into Union Territory (UT).
Baig had quoted a statement of Mehbooba in 2017 in which she had warned that no one in Kashmir would hold the Tricolour if Article 370 was tampered with, a provocative statement which should have never been made.
Baig had told the press conference at a time when Mehbooba was in jail that it was a provocative statement which was made by her in his absence. I, on record, have said that the statement like that resulted in downgrading J&K from state into Union Territory. That did not help us and that should not have been made,” Baig had said in his first media conference in Jammu since Article 370 was revoked on August 5 last year.
Baig was present at the time of Gupkar Declaration on August 4 last year, when leaders of different political parties, including Dr Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others decided to defend the special status of the state.
However, on Sunday Baig said that current situation demands collective fight for restoration of rights snatched by the centre on August 5, 2019.
He also welcomed the joint statement issued by signatories of Gupkar Declaration on August 22 and said any platform constituted for the restoration of Article 370 & 35(A) needs to be taken seriously.
Baig, who claimed to have not approached before issuing the second declaration, said he welcomed the joint statement issued by signatories of Gupkar Declaration on August 22.
However, several senior PDP leaders, who did not want to be named, said no party activity would be resumed under Mr Baig and until Mehbooba is released. They said though several PDP leaders are still under detention, this could not have prevented free leaders to meet.
Meanwhile, Safeena Baig state president of the Women Wing of PDP has declared that party will not participate in any activity until Mehbooba is released. PDP Supports unified strategy to deal with emerging political situation, Safeena, wife of PDP patron Baig has said.
However, PDP spokesman Harbaksh Singh said Baig hds called a meeting of senior party leaders for which permission was sought from the administration because of COVID-19.
He said a number of senior party leaders are still under detention and their participation would have been possible only after permission by the administration. He said there was no response from the administration to the letter.
About how the NC organized series of meetings in Srinagar, Singh said the government has filed affidavit in the court that no NC leader is under detention that is why they were allowed to attend the meeting. However, in case of PDP leaders, no such affidavit has been filed in the court by the government.
PDP youth president Waheed Para said the meeting scheduled today was postponed in view of the continued detention of some party leaders. But, he said, it was postponed as authorities have refused to allow some of the leaders to move out of their houses. Now party is mulling legal action for the release of the leaders as there are no formal detention orders for them.
He said the meeting will be convened as and when all the leaders are available.
Over a dozen PDP senior leaders, including former ministers and legislators, had left the party and joined newly floated Apni Party headed by Syed Altaf Bukhari, also from PDP.
Former CM and National Conference (NC) Dr Abdullah has recently alleged that centre has put Mehbooba in jail to break her PDP.
