Senior Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday met National Conference (NC) president and MP Dr. Farooq Abdullah — who was released on Friday — in Srinagar and pitched for release of detained mainstream leaders, while avoiding any comments on Article 370 and 35A.
Also read:After release, all eyes are on Farooq Abdullah’s next move
“Development in J&K, which has come to a halt, cannot be carried out by putting the leaders under detention. A political process is to be initiated and can only proceed only after the [mainstream] leaders are released. Firstly, democracy should be restored here,” said Mr. Azad.
He demanded release of NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, both former Chief Ministers , and others held in different detention centres in J&K.
Mr. Azad is the first national leader to meet Dr. Abdullah, who was released after over seven months of detention, at his residence in Gupkar Road here. Conspicuously, Mr. Abdullah chose not to issue any statement as Mr. Azad briefed the media after the meeting.
“It was the happiest moment to meet Dr. Abdullah after seven months. He is a friend. Besides, I met him on behalf of those who raised voice against his detention since August last year, in Parliament and at other platforms,” Mr. Azad said.
“Such punishment is given to criminals, to people who work against the nation, but what has he and the other political leaders in detention done?”
Also read: Farooq Abdullah detained under Public Safety Act for 12 days, his house declared a jail
Avoiding to make any comment on the August 5 episode, Article 370, 35A or reunification of pre-August State of J&K, the Congress leader suggested that there should be immediate restoration of Statehood to J&K from the Union Territory status.
“J&K was the only State, which was never merged with any other State as it was a big State as compared to others. Downgrading it into a UT was insult to its people,” Mr. Azad said.
An NC spokesman said the meeting took place in an affable atmosphere and “both the leaders discussed a range of issues”.
In an oblique reference to Mr. Azad’s statement, Ms. Mufti, whose Twitter handle is run by her daughter Iltija Mufti, tweeted: “Article 370 abrogation is unconstitutional and illegal. It’s the elephant in the room that most don’t want to acknowledge. Downgrading J&K into a UT was done to shift goal posts. Seasons might have changed since August but the tinge of betrayal remains.”
Dr. Abdullah met his incarcerated son Omar Abdullah at the Hari Niwas on Gupkar Road in the morning along with other family members. He visited the graveyard of his father and NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on Friday afternoon.
