Amit Shah triggers controversy with his ‘Gupkar gang’ remark, Kashmiri leaders slam him

Lashing out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his ‘Gupkar gang’ remark, former J&K chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday alleged that all those who oppose the ideology of the BJP are labeled as ‘corrupt and anti-national’.

In a series of tweets, Abdullah, who is vice-president of National Conference, and Mehbooba Mufti, who is the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  reacted strongly against Shah's remarks where he termed Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) as ‘Gupkar Gang’.

“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,” Shah tweeted.

Slamming the Home Minister over his remark, Abdullah said, “We are not a 'gang' Amit Shah ji, we are a legitimate political alliance having fought & continuing to fight elections, much to your disappointment.”

Abdullah said he can understand the frustration behind this attack by the Home Minister.

“He (Mr Shah) had been briefed that the People’s Alliance was preparing to boycott elections. This would have allowed the BJP & newly formed King’s party a free run in J&K. We didn’t oblige them,” the NC vice-president wrote on twitter.

The former chief minister said only in J&K can leaders be detained and called ‘anti-national’ for participating in elections and supporting the democratic process. 

“The truth is all those who oppose the ideology of the BJP are labelled corrupt & anti-national,” he said.

On the other hand, Mehbooba said, “Old habits die hard. Earlier BJPs narrative was that the tukde tukde gang threatened India’s sovereignty & they are now using ‘Gupkar Gang’ euphemism to project us as anti nationals. Irony died a million deaths since its BJP itself that violates the constitution day in & day out.”

“Fighting elections in an alliance is also anti-national now. BJP can stitch as many alliances in its hunger for power but somehow we are undermining national interest by putting up a united front,” she said.

“BJPs stale tactic of dividing India by projecting themselves as saviours & political opponents as internal & imagined enemies is far too predictable now. Love jihad, tukde tukde & now Gupkar Gang dominates the political discourse instead of like rising unemployment & inflation,” she added.

Shah had up the ante at PAGD, saying, “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.”

“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,” he added.

Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which is an amalgam of seven mainstream political parties, has announced the fight District Development Council (DDC) elections in an alliance in J&K.