Omar’s house arrest ends amid lockdown
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: After over eight months in detention, former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief minister and National Conference (NC) vicepresident Omar Abdullah was released from detention as the J&K administration revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against him on Tuesday.
Soon after his release, Abdullah — who emphasised that the key issue right now was winning the battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) — demanded the restoration of 3G and 4G mobile internet services in Kashmir and the release of all those in detention since August 5 last year.
Back in Delhi, government officials indicated that Abdullah’s release was a part of the effort to restore normalcy in J&K, and was a reflection of the improved situation in the Union Territory. Officials also said that other detainees would be released soon.
Abdullah, who has grown a long beard during his detention, drove from Hari Niwas to his residence at Gupkar Road. His father, and National Conference chief, Farooq Abdullah was released on March 13.
Speaking to reporters, Omar Abdullah said, “I had thought a lot about what I would say the moment I came out — about what happened on August 5, how J&K was broken up into two Union territories, the hardship faced by the people, how children could not go to schools, how shopkeepers, hotel-owners, taxi drivers lost their earnings. I was in one place, but the people faced real hardship.”
But, Abdullah added, he would speak openly on all these issues at a later date.
“Right now, I recognise that we are waging a bigger battle, a battle of life and death. We need to fight the coronavirus. We need to preserve ourselves, our children, our parents, our families, our neighbours, our friends.”
He said his first appeal was to citizens to abide by government advisories and ensure social distancing.
But along with that, Abdullah had two specific appeals for the government.
“In these difficult times, I ask the Centre to release political detainees and let them return home... release Mehbooba Mufti, leaders of National Conference and People’s Democratic Party and others not associated with any party.”
He also asked the government to lift communication curbs and restore 3G and 4G connections. “They say learn about how to fight the coronavirus from the internet. But how do we do that when it doesn’t open?”
Later in the day, Abdullah returned to Twitter — sharing a picture of his first meal with his parents, thanking his party colleagues, lawyers and his sister, reiterating the need to fight the coronavirus, and on a lighter note, saying, “If anyone wants tips on surviving quarantine or a lock down I have months of experience at my disposal, perhaps a blog is in order.”
On August 5, the Centre nullified Article 370, divided the state into two Union territories and imposed restrictions in the Kashmir valley.