New Voter Registration: PAGD to meet today at Farooq Abdullah’s residence
The Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is meeting here on Saturday to discuss different issues including the ongoing registration of voters in Jammu & Kashmir.
Sources in the PAGD told news agency, that constituents of the conglomerate are meeting today morning at Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence to discuss the future course of action on different issues confronting J&K.
“The issue of registration of voters is expected to come up in the meeting,” they said, adding that leaders from NC, Peoples Democratic Party, CPI(M) and Awami National Conference would participate in the meeting.
The registration of voters in Jammu & Kashmir has been mired in controversy after then chief electoral officer Hirdesh Kumar said that 20-25 lakh would be added during the exercise.
Earlier this week, the J&K government withdrew a circular issued by DC Jammu authorizing Revenue officials to issue residence certificates to those living in the district for more than one year after political parties slammed the directive.
Opposition parties in Jammu & Kashmir have also set- up a committee comprising senior leaders of different parties to chalk out future strategy regarding the inclusion of non-locals in the revised electoral rolls of J&K.
While National Conference MP Justice ( retired) Hasnain Masoodi has been appointed as its convener, Raman Bhalla, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Rattan Lal Gupta, Hasnain Masoodi, Dr. Mehboob Beg, A S Reen, Gulchain Singh Charak, Chowdhary Lal Singh, Manish Sawhney, Hari Singh, G.M Mizrab, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah and I D Khujuria are its members.
Meanwhile, The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked people to stand up against the divisive forces that are trying to weaken the country from within.
This he said while addressing an event to celebrate the 75th birthday of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chagan Bhujbal in Mumbai. The event was also attended by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar and party leaders from Janata Dal (United) and DMK.
Stressing on working towards ensuring unity in the country, Dr. Farooq said, “Our country is diverse, there is diversity of faiths, cultures and climates. What unites us is our faith. Religion doesn’t divide people, it unites. We all together can build India by living with camaraderie,” he said.
There are no external threats to the country, there are divisive forces within the country that are weakening it, he said adding, “We should stop seeing ourselves as Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. I’m an Indian Muslim. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we have to unite this country, and that can only be achieved by living in friendship.”
Meanwhile Dr. Farooq Abdullah drove to Asaar-e-Sharief Dargah Hazratbal, after he returned to Srinagar from Maharashtra earlier in the noon. He offered Congregational prayers at the revered shrine and prayed for lasting peace and prosperity in J&K, and the rest of the country. He also had a glimpse of Moi-e-Mukadas Sharif.
