Sajad Gani Lone divorces PAGD, accusing it of “breach of trust”

ANN News Desk

Tariq Bhat

Srinagar, Jan 19: Peoples Conference led by its chairman Sajad Gani Lone Tuesday divorced Peoples Alliance Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) — an amalgam of regional political parties seeking restoration of special status to J&K.

In his letter addressed to PAGD President Dr Farooq Abdullah, has invoked grounds for taking this decision, saying that PAGD constituents fielded its proxy candidates against PAGD candidate and “breach of trust.”

The development in political circles is seen as big setback to PAGD which claims to be representing the voices of people.

Though Lone was earlier a separatist leader but later he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was confessed that separatism was a mistake. He later also supported BJP in erstwhile state of J&K in formation of government.

“Party fielding the candidate on behalf of PAGD was left to fend for itself and secured the votes that his party managed. In most places other parties were silent bystanders or worst compounded the problem by fielding proxy candidates,” reads the letter.

“. We believe that the votes polled against the PAGD are majorly the votes cast by proxies of PAGD constituent parties against official PAGD candidates. And the net outcome of selectively voting for and against PAGD is a very poor vote share. This is certainly not the vote share that people of J and K deserved post August 5,” it added.

“I would however want to add that we are divorcing from the alliance not its objectives. We will continue to adhere to the objectives that we set out when this alliance was made,” the letter reads.

It said that it is difficult for Peoples Conference to stay on and pretend as if nothing has happened.  “There has been a breach of trust between partners which we believe is beyond remedy. The majoritarian view in our party is we should pull out of the alliance in an amicable manner rather than waiting for things to get messier. And I am confirming that we will no longer be a part of the PAGD alliance,” it reads.

It added that Peoples Conference will extend support on all issues which fall within the ambit of stated objectives of PAGD to its leadership.

PAGD senior leader Muzafar Shah said that pulling out of Lone will not make any difference to the ideology.

‘This is democracy. People come and go. We wish Lone all the best,” he said while commenting on the development.