Srinagar, July 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its high command will decide over the participation in the meetings of the delimitation commission but asserted the people of Jammu and Kashmir have reservations over the whole exercise. The PDP also said it will continue to be a part of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) – the amalgam of six political parties seeking the restoration of the special status of the IIOJK which was revoked by the Modi government in August 2019.

The PDP chief spokesperson, Suhail Bukhari, talking to reporters after party’s meeting in Srinagar said, the people of IIOJK have some reservations about the whole process (delimitation). What is the reason that delimitation is going on at this juncture when it is not taking place anywhere else in India, he asked. “This whole process is under the Reorganisation Act under which Article 370 and 35A were revoked and statehood was also taken away. As far as the party’s participation is concerned, the party high command will discuss the issue and then a final decision will be taken,” he said.

The delimitation commission will visit IIOJK between July 6 and 9 and interact with political parties, public representatives and officials of the territory to gather “first hand” information of the mega exercise to carve out new constituencies, the Election Commission had said on Wednesday. Asked about the PDP’s stand over elections, Bukhari said a decision will be taken when that stage arrives. “There will be discussions within the party over taking part in elections and as we reach that stage, a decision will be taken,” he said.

On a question whether the party was still a part of the Gupkar Alliance, Bukhari said, “We are a part of the PAGD and the agenda and the thought process on which it was formed – the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, the struggle for the constitutional and political rights of the people of J-K – is there and we are all together.” He said there was no question of the alliance breaking as it represented the hope of the people of IIOJK and the struggle for the rights of the people.

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