Srinagar: Stating that “Chapter Two” of Gupkar Declaration was warranted in view of the recent statements viz a viz the August 4, 2019 declaration, owing to the changed ground situation during last one year- when the actual Declaration was signed- former law and Justice minister and National Conference leader Syed Basharat Bukhari on Saturday said that instead of following the declaration, the signatory parties need to follow the “essence” of the historical declaration.
Bukhari, in a statement, said that as the ground situation stands already changed and the majority of the issues which the signatory parties had pledged to fight to protect, have already been taken away by the Government of India (GoI).
Bukhari, according to a local news agency, said that since everything which was to be protected has already gone, enforcing a change in ground situation Since August 04, 2019- when the declaration was actually signed-, therefore, a renewed strategy needs to be adopted.
He added that following the ‘Sprit and essence’ of it, the incorporation of “Second Chapter” in the declaration had become inevitable.
“See the point one of the declarations stated that special status of the State of the Jammu and Kashmir would be protected at all cost. That has already now gone. Point second was about safeguarding the division of the state and protection of 370, 35-A, that also has gone, and the third point was that signatory party representatives would meet President and Prime Minster to register their protest and apprehensions, and even that phase has passed off. I don’t think it makes any sense now with reference to the facts mentioned above.” Bukhari was quoted by a local news agency RNA as having said.
The former Law Minister added that whatever is being said after one year in the recent days needs to be looked into and in light of that “Second Chapter” needs to be incorporated in the said declaration.
Pertinently the various political parties including National Conference, Congress, People’s Conference, JKANC and CPI(M) on Saturday issued a joint statement vowing to stand by the Gupkar Declaration of August 4, 2019. They said that they will continue to fight for the restoration of the special status of JK and its statehood.
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