Irfan A Mir
Srinagar, Mar 14 (KNS): Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday urged central government to revoke the decision taken on August 5, 2019 and restore statehood of J&K. He welcomed the release of NC leader Dr Farooq and said though his release is a ‘welcome step’ but still we are unable to understand on what grounds Abdullah had been detained.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad while addressing media persons at the residence of NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that I am happy to see Dr Abdullah out of prison after more than seven months.
Azad, who landed at Srinagar International Airport on Saturday morning drove to Gupkar and met National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah whose PSA detention was revoked by J&K administration on March 13.
“I’m very happy to see Dr Farooq Abdullah out of prison after a long time who was detained on August 2019 hours before central government took away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir”, Azad said.
He said I along with all political parties are unable to understand on what grounds Abdullah was detained. He added those who resort to violate the law of land are being brought to law, be it acts of anti-national or anti-government but as far as our knowledge is concerned Farooq sahib did nothing like such acts.
Congress leader also said, “I am here to express solidarity and sympathy with NC leader on behalf of my party, all MP’s, political parties who raised voice over his ‘illegal detention’ and impressed for his release in and outside the Parliament”.
He further said, I told Dr Farooq how much people of the country and outside were vocal for this health and detention?
Terming the detention of NC leader as “injustice” and “intimidation”, Congress leader said despite passing of over seven months, we are unable to understand why he was detained, but it was the will of Allah who ensured his release without any harm.
Over detentions of political leaders post-August 2019, Azad said authorities detained indiscriminately political leadership and their activists like parrots are being caged. However he maintained that if government of India is willing to initiate political process in J&K, caged leaders need to be released without any interruption and delay.
“There is a first and foremost need to restore political exercises in Jammu and Kashmir and release all political leaders and activists languishing in and outside jails”, Congress leader said.
While lashing upon non-elected establishments, he said no developmental works have been carried out in J&K since three years.
“Since three years developmental activities in J&K have been put on hold due to which tourism, handicraft, transport, industrial sector, roads, export and others suffered a huge brunt due to apathetic behaviour of government”, Congress leader said.
At the occasion, he impressed upon Modi led central government to revoke the decision taken on August 5, 2019 and restore the statehood of J&K for upholding the ethos and principles of democracy.
“Central government on August last year scrapped special status of J&K and divided the ‘biggest state’ in the country into two UT’s which was a ‘shocking move’. We urge upon the government to cancel the decision taken last year and restore statehood of J&K”, Azad said.
Terming the newly launched political outfit led by former finance minister Syed Altaf Bukhari “Jammu Kashmir Apni Party” as “Agency Party”, and added that such political units will impact little over J&K.
Pertinently Azad who visited Kashmir post-scrapping of Article 370, was denied permission to meet detained NC President and was deported back from Srinagar International Airport along with other opposition leaders. But after intervention of Supreme Court (SC) he was only allowed to visit four district of Kashmir during which he met several delegations who apprised him inconveniences faced by people. (KNS)