Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah described his “freedom” as being “incomplete” until other detained leaders, including his son Omar Abdullah and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, are released.
“I don’t have words to tell you today. I am free, I am free,” said Abdullah who is the MP from Srinagar.
“I hope my people will be free, I hope the people of the state will be free. Let’s pray to God that we see true freedom for which we have been trying for long. God bless you all, God bless the state.”
Abdullah, also the National Conference president, came out of his Gupkar Road residence with wife Molly Abdullah, daughter Sara Abdullah Pilot, and grandchildren after the Public Safety Act (PSA) charges against him were revoked Friday. He spoke to journalists who were allowed to enter the main complex of the residence.
“I am also grateful to all the people of the state to all the leaders of the country who spoke for me. I am also grateful to everyone who prayed for us,” he said. “But this freedom is not complete. The freedom will be complete when all the leaders, Omar (Abdullah), Mehboobaji, and all the others who are detained in prisons, either in the state or outside, in the MLA hostel or in various buildings are under house arrest.”
J&K administration sources told ThePrint that the release came a day after Abdullah underwent an eye surgery in a Srinagar hospital.
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NC chief thanks parliamentarians
Standing beside his family, the former CM thanked the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and parliamentarians who raised the issue of detention of Kashmiri politicians.
“Parliamentarians who spoke for me who fought for my freedom. Today they have seen the results. I will be able to go to the Parliament and speak for you the people of the state,” he said.
“I am grateful to those who prayed for our freedom and to the leaders who fought for our freedom. I thank Allah that I am today in front of you,” he added.
The move to revoke the PSA imposed on Abdullah comes days after a joint statement, seeking the release of detained Kashmiri politicians, was issued by multiple opposition leaders, including the NCP’s Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress’ Mamata Banerjee, JDS’ H.D. Deve Gowda, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury and D. Raja.
“I hope the Government of India will take action soon and the people of the state will have freedom and live as free people,” the NC chief said..
“I will answer no questions or speak on political matters until everyone is released. It’s only when they will be released that I will be able to tell you about political matters,” he added. “I am grateful to you that you have been standing outside for many hours. Thank god the state is open. We tried for so many months to see the state open.”
Soon after the announcement of the revocation of his PSA, local police barred entry of civilian traffic moving towards Gupkar Road as a “precautionary measure”.
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Step in right direction: NC
The National Conference in a statement said Abdullah’s release was a step in the right direction for the restoration of genuine political processes in Jammu and Kashmir.
“These processes will receive a further fillip when party Vice President Omar Abdullah and other political detainees are set free,” the statement said. “We urge the government to do so at the earliest. As the pre-eminent political party of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference has played a key role in strengthening the voice of the people through democracy and will continue to do so.”
Farooq Abdullah was put under detention at his residence when the central government scrapped Article 370 in August 2019. He was among dozens of key regional politicians who were detained as a part of the central government’s efforts to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the region losing its special status.
Abdullah, who was first taken into preventive custody on 5 August, was booked under PSA on 15 September 2019 for three months, which was later extended.
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He is a spent force. Detention was good for his as well as Kasmir’s health.
He must have his bottle.