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Kashmir leaders hold meeting, discuss ‘grim’ situation in Palestine

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 11/4/2023 6:24:15 AM

*Urge Modi to raise voice in support of UNO resolutions, say India as big country must play its role for ceasefire

Members of Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), (From left) former chief minister and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Member Parliament Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, former chief minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and CPI-M senior leader Mohamed Yusuf Tarigami at a meeting in Srinagar, Kashmir on Friday, November 03, 2023. KT Photo/Qazi Irshad

SRINAGAR, Nov 03: In the backdrop of Israel-Palestine situation, the Kashmir leaders, members of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) including the former chief ministers of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir held a meeting on Friday, raising their concern over what they termed as the grim situation in Palestine.
Sources privy to the development told a local news gathering agency (KNO) that the meeting was convened by Member of Parliament and former J&K chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and was attended by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, NC senior leader and Member of Parliament (Retd) Justice Hasnain Massodi and CPI (M) senior leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami.
Tarigami while talking to KNO said that it was not a formally convened Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) meeting, but Dr Farooq Abdullah wanted to convene a hurriedly called meeting today in which various issues were discussed particularly the grim and emerging situation in Palestine and relentless encirclement and massacre of people of Palestine.
“The participants expressed their concern over the catastrophic situation, unprecedented in the sense that never ever has it happened in that particular region before,” he said.
“There has been violence, there have been atrocities committed in the past as well, but this time it is harsher. The world community must raise their voice. We have urged upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that we (India) has a tradition to support in support of Palestinian rights, so we must raise our voice in support of the UNO resolutions, concern expressed by General Secretary, concern expressed by human rights commissions, concern expressed by WHO about the violations and war crimes being committed there,” he said while divulging the discussions that took place in the meeting.
“India as a big country must play its role so that there is a ceasefire and an immediate end to the ongoing massacre of the Palestinians,” he said.
Dr. Farooq who earlier chaired PAGD meeting at his residence here in Srinagar, while addressing media expressed grave concern over discontinuation of the supply of water and electricity in the besieged Gaza.
He asserted the situation in Gaza is devastating and urged India to play its role in easing out the sufferings of people dwelling in Gaza. “Look at the condition of the hospitals there are no medicines, no electricity and water. I feel people of India should stand up against the ongoing situation in Gaza,” Dr. Farooq said.
Pertinently, the meeting was held this afternoon at Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence while no other members of PAGD were invited for the meeting, which started at 04:00 PM.
Farooq Abdullah pays tributes to late Aga Syed Mehdi
Dr Farooq Abdullah visited the residence of senior party leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in Budgam on the occasion of 23rd martyrdom anniversary of his revered father and noted Islamic scholar Aga Syed Mehdi Al-Musawi Al-Safavi.
Party’s Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq and other party local unit functionaries accompanied him on the occasion.
Joined in by party functionaries, Dr Farooq Abdullah offered Fateh prayers and supplication for peace to the departed soul of the veteran leader in the highest realms of Jannat.
Recollecting late Aga’s contribution in public life, Dr Farooq said, “He was devotedly and deeply loved and admired by people. He is gone, but he continues to live by virtue of his scholarly endowments, political foresight and sheer amount of good work that he rendered for the people. I pray to the Almighty to elevate his stations in Jannat.”
He also said that he had met the veteran leader in Jammu days before the fateful blast took away his life. “As usually most part of our discussion was focussed on ending strife in the region. I could make out that he was very concerned with the developments in the region. His vision was that of a just and equitable society, that he emphasised on unfailingly that day as well. The jinxed fate of our region snatched such a brave leader from us too soon. I hope and pray his worthy son Aga Ruhullah Sahib accomplishes his dreams in the days and years ahead,” he added.