Srinagar, Jan 19 (KNS): Reacting to the pulling out of the PAGD alliance by the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, senior National Conference leader and member parliament Hasnain Masudi said that it is not a setback to the alliance.

Talking exclusively to the news agency KNS, Hasnain Masudi said that he does not see it as a setback to the alliance, which was formed to fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir on democratic principles.

“In a democracy, everyone has the right to stay in any alliance or pull out of that at his will. If Sajad Lone thinks it was a right decision to pull out of the alliance so be it, however, this is not a setback to the alliance,” Masudi said.

He said that the purpose of the alliance was to restore the status of Jammu and Kashmir that it had before August 05, 2019, and the alliance is well on track and “hopefully” it will achieve the desired results with the support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On being asked whether Sajad Lone should relook at his decision of pulling out of the alliance, Masudi said that if Sajad Lone has a change of heart in coming days, he is welcome as the alliance was formed keeping in view the basic principles of democracy.

On being about any suggestions to Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti after the pullout of Sajad Lone from the alliance, Masudi said that they must stand united and they should believe that the path they have chosen is for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the coming generations.

“Everyone who is in the alliance has a belief that they are on the right track. DDC elections were a challenge for every one of us and we overcame that challenge despite many hurdles. The success of the PAGD in the DDC elections should not be downplayed,” he said. 

He said that success of PAGD in the DDC elections was encouraging and he feels that there is no setback to the alliance in any way and everyone is acknowledging the support PAGD got during the DDC elections.

He also said that it was a major milestone that PAGD achieved during the DDC elections despite several challenges.

Earlier, during the day People’s Conference chairman, Sajad Gani Lone wrote a letter to PAGD president Dr Farooq Abdullah stating that he was no longer part of the alliance due to “breach of trust”. (KNS)