Globaltoday.in|GNS|Kashmir
Released After 7 Months, NC Patron Says Won’t Speak On ‘Political Matters’ Till All Others Are Released, Prays For ‘True Freedom We’ve Been Trying For Long’; Visits Father’s Grave
Srinagar. March 13: Former Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah was released from seven months of detention under Public Safety Act on Friday.
Speaking to media at his Gupkar residence, where he was kept under detention since August 5 when Article 370 was revoked and J&K bifurcated into two union territories, Farooq announced not to speak on ‘political matters’ till all other detainees including his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti are released.
In his short address to media, he referred to J&K as “state” four times and said, “let us pray to god we will see true freedom we have been trying for a long time.”
“I am grateful to all people of the state and the leaders and the people of the nation who spoke for our people. I am also thankful to every individual who prayed for us. But this freedom is not complete. The freedom will be complete when all leaders, Omar (Abdullah), Mehboobaji (Mehbooba Mufti) who are in the prison inside the ‘state’ or outside the ‘state’ or in MLA hostels or various buildings where they have been kept under house arrest,” said Farooq who was released after the J&K’s home department on Friday revoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against him with immediate effect.
“I hope the government of India will take action very soon to release everyone if they want that people of this state should have the freedom to live as free people,” said Farooq who was flanked by some family members including his wife and daughter.
“I am grateful to you (media). I will answer no question, not speak on any political matter till everyone is released. It is only when all the leaders will be released then I will be able to talk to you on political matters,” said 82-year-old politician who is currently a member of Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament, from Srinagar.
“I am grateful to you that you have been standing for many hours outside this gate. Thank God this gate is open now. We tried for so many months to see this gate open,” he said, adding, “Today I don’t have words the way I feel today. I am free. I am free. I hope my people will be free. I hope my people of the state will be free. Let us pray to God we will see true freedom we have been trying for a long time. God bless you all, God bless our state.”
He was the first chief minister against whom the PSA was invoked. The stringent Act was slapped against him on September 15, hours before the Supreme Court was to hear a petition by MDMK leader Vaiko who claimed that Abdullah had been illegally detained.
The decision to release the National Conference patron came hours ahead of the ending of the three-month period on Friday midnight.
“In exercise of powers conferred under section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 the Government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No DMS/PSA/120/2019 dated 15-09-2019 issued by District Magistrate Srinagar extended for a period of 03 months vide Government Order No Home/PB-V/340 of 2019 dated 13-12-2019 and then extended for a further period of three months vide Government Order No Home/PB V/668 of 2020 dated 11-03-2020 of Dr Farooq Abdullah S/o Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah R/o Gupkar Road, Srinagar with immediate effect,” reads the order issued for Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to Government. Later in the evening Farooq visited his father’s grave at Hazratbal and offered prayers, reports said.
