Farooq meets son Omar after release
SOCIALISING Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also calls on Farooq at his Gupkar residence
SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah had an emotional reunion with his son Omar Abdullah on Saturday after a gap of seven months, following his release from detention the previous day, and also met Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who called for the return of democracy to the erstwhile state.
Accompanied by wife Molly and daughter Safia, the National Conference president visited Hariniwas in Srinagar to meet Omar Abdullah, who has been under detention since August 5, the day the Centre moved to end Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and reorganise it into two Union territories -- J&K and Ladakh.
Abdullah and his son greeted each other with a warm embrace.
Farooq Abdullah, and fellow former CMs Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were all detained the same day along with many other mainstream and separatist politicians to forestall the possibility of them leading protests against the Centre’s move.
The 82-year-old NC patriarch, a member of the Lok Sabha, was released on Friday from detention under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows for detention for two years without trial. Omar Abdullah and
Mufti remain detained under the PSA, which was invoked against them in February.
“He came to see Omar at Hari Niwas today. It was the scheduled meeting day for the family,” said Safia Abdullah, expressing relief at the release of her father and adding that the family was looking forward to the release of her brother. .
She said the family was relieved at the release of her father and was now looking forward to the release of her brother. She said the family was limiting the number of visitors her father receives because of the coronavirus outbreak and his surgery for cataract earlier in the week.
After meeting his son, Farooq Abdullah straight way drove to his Gupkar residence in the neighbourhood. In the afternoon, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also visited Gupkar for a meeting with the NC president that lasted more than one hour. Azad told reporters that he had told Abdullah that the people had bee anguished over his detention.
“Kashmir witnessed the worst cold this winter in many years and also keeping in view his health, it was wrong on the part of the government... But nobody can harm a person who is protected by the Almighty,’’ Azad said.
Azad called for the restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and release of all detained political leaders.
“First and foremost, democracy should be restored in J&K for any political process to start,” Azad said.
“...Democracy can be restored once all the leaders behind bars -either in jails or in guest houses or under a 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, also seeking restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
On Friday, soon after his release, Farooq Abdullah refrained from making any political statement, saying he will speak for the people in Parliament.