We are anti-BJP, not anti-India: Farooq Abdullah

New Delhi: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) would fight for the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This is an anti-BJP group, not anti-India. He said the People's Alliance would fight for the return of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Members of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration met at the residence of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar on Saturday. This was his first meeting since the group was formed. After the meeting, Farooq Abdullah said, "We are anti-BJP, not anti-India." Attempts to divide us in the name of religion will fail. This is not a religious fight.

"We have selected Farooq Abdullah as the president of the recently formed People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration while Mehbooba Mufti will be the vice-president," People's Conference leader Sajad Lone said after the meeting. Sajad will be the loan spokesperson. The flag of Jammu and Kashmir has been kept as the symbol of this group. Which has become irrelevant since the deletion of Article-370.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti made the controversial statement on Friday. He said the tricolor would not be waved until Article 370 was re-enacted in Jammu and Kashmir and it was given back the status of a special state. It may be recalled that in August last year, the Modi government had repealed Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.