Srinagar, Dec 24: Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Thursday said that the alliance was stronger than when it was formed, saying that it is here to stay and nobody should have a doubt on the future of the group.
“We are here to stay and nobody should have any doubt about it,” PAGD president Farooq Abdullah told reporters during a joint press conference of the alliance leaders, who meet here for the first time after the results of the District Development Council (DDC) election.
Hitting out at the administration over detentions of political leaders, the PAGD leadership demanded for their release immediately.
The PAGD members on Thursday met at the Gupkar residence of Dr Abdullah and discussed further course of action. “We want to express gratitude to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who voted for me and also to those who didn’t vote for us. Gratitude for coming out in large numbers to vote and repose faith in democracy,” PAGD spokesperson Sajad Lone, who is the chairman of People Conference (PC), told reporters.
He said now the people of J&K, after upheavals, have reposed faith in democracy of this country, the onus lies with the administration to reciprocate that respect and faith in democracy.
“There are disturbing reports about interference in democracy where the government of the day is acting in a partisan manner by directly or indirectly supporting moves by some people… to attract votes of Independent DDC member by confining them. I think they should resist from this and not humiliate this great verdict of the people of J&K,” he said.
He said history is full of examples that those who try to humiliate verdict of the people end up in disaster. “We need to respect this verdict and the people of J&K. Under no circumstance should the democracy be tinkered with,” he said.
“The other new trend is preventive detentions… what is the logic behind it as the elections have ended. It has been one of the most peaceful elections in the last three decades and this should have ended with something good. It ending with detentions is totally antithetical to the way elections were held in terms of lack of violence. One fails to understand that when elections were held so peacefully what is the need for detentions? And they should be release immediately,” he added.
