Farooq Abdullah meets son Omar after release
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 e a c h o t h e r wi t h a wa r m 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 s a i d t he f a mily was relieved at the release of her father and was now looking forward t o t he r e l e a s e o f 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