Restore democracy in JK, Azad tells centre
Meets Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar
Srinagar: Congress general secretary and leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday met NC chief Farooq Abdullah who was released on Friday after spending more than seven months in detention.
Azad met the National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister at his residence in Gupkar area of the city here in the afternoon.
After the two-hour long meeting, Azad called for restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and release of all political leaders.
“First and foremost, democracy should be restored in J&K for any political process to start,” Azad told reporters.
He also called for the release of all leaders and individuals, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who have been detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
“…Democracy can be restored once all the leaders behind bars — either in jails or in guest houses or under particular act — are released. Let every individual of J&K be released from jail. Let the political process start… Let democracy prevail and then we can pick up other fights,” he said.
Azad also sought restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad, who arrived in Srinagar on Saturday said that the key for development of Jammu and Kashmir is not in putting the leaders here in detention, but the mission can only be carried forward after the leaders are released and a political process is initiated.
Abdullah didn’t talk to media persons, but said that he spoke to the media persons yesterday and will allow only Azad to speak.
Talking to media persons, Azad said that “It was a joyous moment for him that after seven months, he has met the NC leader Farooq Abdullah who remained under detention for over seven months. Even after Farooq Sahab was released, we still don’t know the reasons behind putting him under detention.”
He added that detention is for those who violate the laws and are involved in anti-national and anti-government activities.
“But, in wake of abrogation of Article 370, many leaders irrespective of their affiliation with any party were put under detention. Therefore, there is no question of any violation by these leaders,” he said.
He said that he met Farooq Abdullah as being a friend, a leader from the other party and also on behalf of those who raised voice against the detention of these leaders since August last year either in parliament or at different platforms.
“The love and friendship with Abdullah was the reason behind meeting him today,” he said, adding that he has informed him about the developments that took place during the period of his detention.
“I know what difficulties you have faced,” Azad told Abdullah in front of media persons, adding that “keeping in view his age and health, putting Abdullah under detention is nothing but excess committed by the government.”
“With the initiation of political process, the elections should also be held and those who will be elected by the people can take decision s regarding development in a better way,” he said.
He added that in last three years, all the development process in Jammu and Kashmir has come to a grinding halt and with this, the locals are sufferings, adding that almost every sector including tourism, Handcraft and others have suffered.
“Not only in Kashmir but in Jammu too people have got badly affected,” the former CM said. .
Azad said all this damage can be repaired by releasing these leaders and initiating a political process. He also demanded restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying that J&K was the only State, which was never merged with any other State as it was big State compared to others.
The leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha said that carving the erstwhile J&K State into the Union Territory was an insult to the people living here. (with inputs from PTI)
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