Political alliance
After the release of Mehbooba Mufti from the 14 month long detention, the Gupkar declaration took the formal shape of a political alliance and it was named as people’s alliance for Gupkar declaration.
Farooq Abdullah emerged as a natural choice to lead the recently formed people’s alliance for the Gupkar Declaration, as discussions to the effect are at the final stages, leaders of the alliance told the media that the public programme will be announced soon.
According to them, all circumstances are being weighed minutely and to move ahead, a second-tier leadership is being kept ready and would be the core group of this alliance in the near future. They fear that Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, along with Sajad Gani Lone may be arrested either in some cases or under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
According to these leaders, if the people’s alliance goes ahead with its programme in the entire erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, it is likely that Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti may be arrested again. The alliance intends to reach out to the people of Kargil and Ladakh, along with the Jammu region, in order to politically challenge BJP on the ground.
In the coming days it will become clear whether the central government will allow such political activities in Jammu and Kashmir as the controversial remarks by Mehbooba Mufti after her release has already irked the BJP leadership and they are demanding her arrest. In such circumstances, the political alliance recently forged in Kashmir has to face huge challenges on the issue of restoration of special status.