Ill timed ED move blessing in disguise for ‘Gupkar Alliance’

JAMMU: The Gupkar Declaration and the alliance behind the political response against change of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution position today got a much needed impetus in the Valley after an apparently ill timed summoning of National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah by the Enforcement Directorate.
A subject of high profile criticism in as far away places such as poll bound Bihar and also in the neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh, which is facing hill council elections three days from now, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration had got very little traction where it mattered the most –the Kashmir Valley. The lack of interest in the alliance in the valley is for obvious reasons –the mainstream political parties, which have traditionally operated in a separatist environment promising more autonomy against the illusory Azadi, have very little to offer after the August 5, 2019 developments.
The Gupkar Declaration –when leaders of several regional parties as also Congress and CPI(M) met at Gukpar Road situated residence of Dr Farooq Abdullah –was announced late in the evening of August 4, 2019 when most political parties suspected that the Centre might affect some changes in Constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir the next day. It was no one’s imagination that not only everything connected to the special status would go but also the state would be downgraded to Union Territory. In next few hours most leaders were taken in detention.
The Gupkar Declaration 2.0, which rejects the August 5 developments and vows struggle for restoration of special status, came as a secret surprise on August 22, 2020 when six parties came together under this commitment. Nothing much happened on the declaration beyond the statement. The move got a slight push, as much as it renewed the discussion around it, on October 15, when Mehbooba Mufti also joined the meeting which ended up naming the group as Peoples’ Alliance.
Four days after coming together of the top leaders of five political parties, including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is believed to be original architect of the Gupkar Declaration 2.0 was today questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for several hours in the infamous Cricket Association scam.
The ED’s summons to Farooq and his questioning in their office for long hours has given the Gupkar Group the much needed attention within the Valley as the timing makes it look like a move ostensibly connected to the political initiative of the National Conference leader.
The Kashmiri twitteratti, which has been all fire against the mainstream political parties, was today seen in solidarity with them as they alleged that Centre’s move of ED summons to Farooq was motivated. A few critics went to the extent of saying that ED summon may have been a deliberate help to the Gupkar Group to gain sympathy in Kashmir.
The National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have openly attacked the Centre while linking ED summons to their political initiative.
Emerging from the ED office after the questioning, Abdullah told reporters that courts would decide on the merits of the case. "I am not worried. Why are you worried? The only regret I have is that I could not have my lunch as I had not brought it along."
The ED, he said, was doing their job and he was doing his.
"Our struggle (for Article 370) will go on whether Farooq Abdullah is alive or Farooq Abdullah is dead. Our resolve has not changed and our resolve will not change even If I were to be hanged," Abdullah said.
Abdullah's son and NC leader Omar Abdullah said the ED action was "...nothing less than political vendetta" and came days after the formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.
Other leaders also spoke out on the issue.
The NC's long-term rival, PDP, which has joined the Alliance, also condemned the ED's action. PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was released after 14 months last week, deplored the "use of agencies to browbeat mainstream parties in JK".
She said the ED's "sudden summons to Farooq sahab displays the extent of GOIs nervousness about mainstream parties in JK fighting as one unit".
(It) Also reeks of political vendetta and won't in the least blunt our collective resolve to fight for our rights," she said on Twitter.
People's Conference leader Sajjad Lone echoed her.
"What a sorry state of affairs. Dr Farooq sahib summoned by ED. Reeks of vendetta. Contrary to what they want to coercively achieve this will certainly have the opposite impact," he tweeted.
The National Conference said in a statement that the summons is clearly the result of the unity that Dr Sahib has been able to forge among mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir .
"This is the price one faces when opposed to BJP's ideology and divisive politics. Recent history is a witness to how BJP has been employing coercive and intimidative measures through various departments to target opposition leaders across the country...,"it said.
The NC said "the timing of the recent summons is very clear" as his previous summons was just before August 5 last year.
The statement said its president continues to maintain "his innocence and will cooperate with the authorities in what is nothing but a witch hunt".