Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Aug 24: Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) General Secretary Ashok Koul Monday said that Gupkar Declaration is an attempt to exploit emotions of innocent people in J&K.
“Some BJP leaders including Ravinder Raina has already issued a statement in this (Gupkar Declaration) regard. Local political parties call it Gupkar Declaration-2. This is nothing but an attempt to exploit the emotions of innocent people in J&K. This is what they had been doing for the past 70 years,” Koul told local news gathering agency.
On 22 August, this year, political parties in Kashmir unanimously resolved to fight for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed pre-August 5, 2019, saying the measures taken were “spitefully shortsighted” and “grossly unconstitutional”. The resolution was called as Gupkar Declaration-2.
On 23 August, thus year, BJP president Ravinder Raina said the Kashmir-based politicians are day-dreaming for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution which is next to impossible.
Koul told that two BJP leaders from Kashmir have also spoken on the Gupkar Declaration and that is the “party line.”
“These political parties who have come up with this declaration are speaking different languages. They are reopening their shops to exploit innocent people,” he said while replying to a query.
Koul said that several BJP leaders have been killed by militants and few are also injured.
“Various BJP leaders have been taken confined to four walls by security forces. Our leaders are frightened but we are struggling with the situation,” he said.
In Gupkar Declaration-2, local political parties reiterated that they are bound, wholly, by the contents of the ‘Gupkar Declaration-1’, a resolution issued after an all-party meeting on August 4, 2019 at the Gupkar residence of NC president Farooq Abdullah.
The resolution at the end of the meet on August 4, 2019, a day before the Centre announced its decision of revocation of J&K’s special status and split it into two union territories, said the parties unanimously resolved that they would be united in their resolve to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir against all attacks and onslaughts. (KINS)
