Srinagar: In a significant development, Sajad Lone led People’s Conference on Tuesday parted ways with the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) citing “breach of trust” between partners.
A tie-up of six parties, the PAGD was formed in October last year with the objective of reinstating the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution, which was abrogated by the Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019. The alliance swept the DDC elections by winning 110 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats.
Lone was the official spokesperson of the Gupkar Alliance.
In a letter, Lone wrote to President PAGD, Dr Farooq Abdullah, he said there was a “breach of trust” between partners so he was no longer part of it.
“This alliance needed sacrifice. Every party had to sacrifice on the ground in terms of giving space to fellow allies. No party is willing to cede space, no party is willing to sacrifice. We fought against each other in Kashmir province not against the perpetrators of August 5. And those who perpetrated August 5 and their minions are now vocally gleeful,” he said in the letter, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Lone said it was difficult for them to stay on and pretend as if nothing has happened.
“There has been a breach of trust between partners which we believe is beyond remedy. The majoritarian view in our party is that we should pull out of the alliance in an amicable manner rather than waiting for things to get messier. And I am confirming that we will no longer be a part of the PAGD alliance,” the letter reads.
He however said he would continue the objectives of the PAGD.
“We will continue to adhere to the objectives that we set out when this alliance was made. And the PAGD leadership should be assured that we will extend support on all issues which fall within the ambit of stated objectives. We have issued clear instructions to all party leaders not to issue any statements against PAGD alliance or its leaders,” Lone said. (KINS)