Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a scathing attack against the ‘People’s Alliance’ of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, terming the coalition of like-minded borderline separatist political parties as the ‘Gupkar Gang’. The ‘Gupkar Declaration’ is a much-touted document signed by various political parties in Kashmir, seeking the immediate restoration of the valley’s special status and complete statehood.
The Congress recently entered into negotiations with the People’s Alliance, and is said to have worked out a seat-sharing formula for itself in the upcoming District Development Council polls of the Union Territory. Congress joining hands with those seeking the restoration of Kashmir’s special status and reinstatement of Article 370 has not gone down well with many.
Mincing no words, Amit Shah began his unsparing attack against the ‘Gupkar Gang’ by revealing that they were seeking help from foreign powers in order to accomplish their motives of pushing Kashmir into the mouth of Islamist terrorism once again.
“The Gupkar Gang is going global! They want foreign forces to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gupkar Gang also insults India’s Tricolour. Do Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji support such moves of the Gupkar Gang? They should make their stand crystal clear to the people of India,” the Home Minister said. It must be remembered that former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had not shied away from saying that for restoration of Kashmir’s special status, they were hoping to have China’s support as well.
Amit Shah, meanwhile, said that the Congress and the Gupkar Gang want to take J&K back to the era of terror and turmoil. “They want to take away rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they’re being rejected by the people everywhere,” he said. Not only was the gang called out for what it really is, but it was also termed as a “global gathbandhan” by the Home Minister, in a subtle reference to the inevitable loss which such an anti-India alliance will face. “Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood, or else the people will sink it,” Amit Shah said while concluding his attack.
The Gupkar Gang is going global! They want foreign forces to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gupkar Gang also insults India’s Tricolour. Do Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji support such moves of the Gupkar Gang ? They should make their stand crystal clear to the people of India.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) November 17, 2020
Congress and the Gupkar Gang want to take J&K back to the era of terror and turmoil. They want to take away rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they’re being rejected by the people everywhere.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) November 17, 2020
Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain an integral part of India. Indian people will no longer tolerate an unholy ‘global gathbandhan’ against our national interest. Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) November 17, 2020
As of now, six political parties – NC, PDP, People’s Conference, People’s Movement, CPI(M) and Awami National Conference (ANC) are a part of the People’s Alliance, which is the group of parties seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The Congress has denied being a part of the Gupkar gang, but is most definitely contesting the DDC polls as a part of the People’s Alliance. While the People’s Alliance had earlier said in no uncertain terms that they would boycott all elections in the valley until Article 370 and Kashmir’s special status was restored, the closet separatists have now made a U-turn, and are all set to contest the DDC polls beginning later this month.