Srinagar, Dec 15:National Conference (NC) on Tuesday said the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is a rallying force to collectively fight to restore special status of Jammu and Kashmir and expose “false and divisive” narrative of BJP and its ilk.

The party also said “various self-seeking politicians” in J&K are adding colors to the “nefarious designs” of BJP.

According to NC statement , party’s general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar while addressing scores of party workers at Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, said, “Dr. Farooq Abdullah-led PAGD is a rallying force united by a common struggle to collectively fight to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and expose the false and divisive narrative of BJP, its ilk.”

“Keeping up with our party’s programme, Farooq Sahib took it upon himself to team up an alliance for the restoration of our rights which were spitefully snatched from us on August 5th 2019,” Sagar said. “The alliance is symbolic of the political magnanimity and foresight that all the constituent units of PAGD have showcased to collectively fight ruling BJP’s onslaught on Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.”

He said the Centre has created a situation where the mainstream parties had “no choice but to forge unity”.

“The battle ahead of us is a long drawn one. We don’t know how long it will take to get back our rights. The people of J&K will continue with their tenacious efforts for the restoration of their rights. People are ready to fight a long, peaceful battle for their future. Unfortunately, the ruling party is busy supplanting the ‘Gujarat Model’ in the country by undermining the Constitution and promoting vicious right-wing populist politics, which seeks to homogenize the country with no space for minorities. The rescinding of J&K’s status was also aimed to meet that end,” he said.

The NC leader said that “unfortunately various self-seeking politicians in J&K are adding colors to the nefarious designs of BJP in their efforts to normalize the blunder”.

The PAGD platform headed by party president Dr Farooq is proving a major obstacle for them to achieve their goals, Sagar said, adding that the decision of PAGD to participate in polls has further rattled them.

“The enthusiasm with which people are supporting PAGD, notwithstanding the hitches and glitches put by ruling BJP has further frustrated them,” he said.