DEADLINE TO BID FOR AIR INDIA EXTENDED T0 APR 30 Farooq walks free as PSA is revoked
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah was released on Friday after seven months of detention as the Central government revoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) it had invoked against the veteran National Conference (NC) leader
Abdullah, 82, was first placed in preventive detention along with several other Kashmiri leaders, including his son Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, both former chief ministers, on August 5 — the day the Centre revoked the special status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and decided to bifurcate the state into two Union territories.
Abdullah, a member of the Lok Sabha, who underwent an eye surgery this week, was put in detention under the PSA, which provides for up to two years of detention without trial, on September 15. His detention was extended by three months in December.
Immediately after his release, Abdullah demanded the release of Omar Abdullah, Mufti and other detained political leaders. Omar Abdullah and Mufti were shifted to detention under the PSA from preventive custody in February.
“I am grateful to all the people of the state and to all the leaders of the country who spoke for our freedom. I am also grateful to every individual who prayed for us. But this freedom is not complete when Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and other lead
ers are either in prison in the state or outside or under house arrest. I hope the government will take action soon to release everyone if they want the people of the state to enjoy freedom. I am grateful to you,” Abdullah said.
The December extension of the PSA against Abdullah was due to end at midnight on Friday and could have been extended for a maximum of six more months.