A meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) was held today at the National Conference headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.
The meet was presided over by NC President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah. NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal were present.
“The unilateral, undemocratic and unconstitutional measures undertaken by government of India, and its impact on the ground level in Jammu and Kashmir was deliberated in the PAC meeting,” an NC handout said.
On the occasion, the PAC members authorised the NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah to “widen the acceptance of Gupkar Declaration among all the sections in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh,” it said.
The participants applauded the NC President for his efforts to bring different political voices on a single platform for the restoration of J&K’s “honour”, which was “undemocratically, unilaterally and unethically rescinded on the 5 August last year,” the statement said.
Besides, the members of PAC also took strong exception of the “succeeding measures undertaken by New Delhi following the annihilation of Articles 370, 35-A,” reads the party statement.
The PAC members expressed outrage over the decision of 5 August last year, saying the “measures have violated the spirit of federalism and the sovereign pledges of Union of India to the people of Jammu and Kashmir made from time to time.”
“The members appreciated the peace loving people of J&K for their peaceful response to unwholesome decisions undertaken by GOI,” the statement said.
The PAC members vowed to stand behind the party President in his efforts to bring all political parties and other civil society groups on one platform to pitch for the restoration of what was “unconstitutionally snatched from the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The NC President took stock of party’s activities in different districts, including Kargil, Chenab, and Pir Panchal regions.
The PAC members rued the “widespread administrative inertia, and development deficit in J&K and expressed concern over the state of economy in J&K”.
They also expressed dismay over the “plight of people associated with agriculture, horticulture, tourism, large and small businesses, medium and small scale industries and handicraft sector,” the statement said.
Other senior NC leaders who participated in the meeting included: Mohammad Shafi Uri, A R Rather, Mian Altaf, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mubarak Gul, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Sakina Itoo, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous, Nazir Gurezi, Hasnain Masoodi, Shammi Oberoi.
The party functionaries from Jammu including Devender Singh Rana, S S Salathia, Javed Rana, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Sajjad Kithcloo participated in the meeting via video link. From Kargil Qamar Ali Akhoon and Haji Haneefa Jan also participated.