AGENCIES, Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday revoked the order against ex-chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah. The decision comes after eight Opposition leaders had demanded the release of all political detainees in the Union territory. “I am free, I am free,” he said while addressing the media outside his home shortly after his release.
Abdullah spent seven months in detention under the Public Safety Act or PSA. Other J&K leaders detained presently include Omar Abdullah and the Peoples’ Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti. They were detained on August 5 last year, after the Centre scrapped the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and imposed massive security restrictions and a communication lockdown.
“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No. DMS/PSA/120/2019 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar,” the order issued by Shaleen Kabra, J-K’s principal secretary for home, said.
Farooq Abdullah was staying at his Gupkar House, which was declared as a sub-jail.
Several Opposition leaders had called for the release of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti in a joint statement on Monday. the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar said: “Under these circumstances, political parties committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights of the citizens and securing the sanctity of the Constitution, cannot sit quiet.”
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee, former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Deve Gowda, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Rajya Sabha member Manoj Kumar Jha had also signed the letter demanding release of J-K.
I pray for the good health and long life of J&K’s former CM & veteran leader Farooq Abdullah Ji. Let the other two former CMs @OmarAbdullah & @MehboobaMufti be freed as well from the unjust PSA and be allowed to join the democratic process immediately.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 13, 2020
