More powers for LG: J&K opposition leaders to meet on August 7 to discuss joint strategy

In a bid to present a united front, the opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir will hold a meeting in the coming days to discuss the amendments to the Rules of Conduct of the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 2019.

“Opposition leaders will meet in Jammu on August 7 to discuss the issue of amendments in the Rules of Transactions of the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 2019. All leaders of opposition parties have been requested to attend the meeting,” Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, spokesperson of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), said, adding that the decision to invite political leaders from all parties was taken on the advice of National Conference chairman Farooq Abdullah.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, a majority of political parties in the UT feel powerless against the Centre. Moreover, the recent decision to give more powers to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has raised alarm bells in the political circles, in view of the upcoming state assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held by September, according to a Supreme Court order.

According to sources, all political parties, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including the Apni Party, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and the People’s Conference, will also be invited to the meeting to chalk out a joint strategy.

Last year, a delegation of political parties met at the Election Commission of India to call for early elections in the UT, which has been without an elected government since June 2018.

Earlier, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, the first leader from the region to open channels of communication with the Centre, had also suggested that political leaders should jointly fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We must fight for our rights together and forget what happened in the past. All parties must come together, otherwise our rights will be taken away one after another,” Bukhari had said.

Shortly after the abrogation of Article 370, political parties in the region formed the PAGD bloc to protect the interests of the region and jointly participated in the first elections for the District Development Council.

However, Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference split soon after the DDC elections. Later, the National Conference and the PDP also fought the first Lok Sabha elections against each other.

However, recent developments and steps taken by the Centre have once again forced them to look at a joint struggle.

Lone had earlier said it was vital that the state assembly elections were held on time, adding: “I sincerely believe that only a government that is accountable to the people has the right to rule and govern. Let my worst electoral rival be elected. I will prefer that government a million times over any foreign government that is mistaken in the idea that they are stakeholders and have political and social sanctity.”

“…a humble appeal to the GOI. End this pain… first give back the state, not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of right. Hold elections and hand over everything to the new government. Good or bad. People will choose. And the elected will rule. As in the rest of the country. No government is perfect. No government will be perfect. With all its imperfections, as in other states, let the newly elected government take office. Stop giving the impression that you are at war with your own people,” he had said.