NC delegation meets Farooq, Omar
SRINAGAR: A 15-member National Conference (NC) delegation on Sunday met detained party leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah here. It was the first such meeting of the fatherson duo with any party delegation ever since they had been put under detention since August 5 when India abrogated Article 370.
The permission for this meeting was granted by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, days after it was sought from Governor Satya Pal Malik. Former NC legislators were also part of the delegation.
The delegation discussed developments in the state and upcoming local body polls during the separate meetings with the two leaders.
The delegation led by Jammu’s provincial chief of the party Davinder Singh Rana met former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Hari Nivas for a little over 30 minutes. The delegation then drove to Farooq Abdullah’s residence.
Emerging after the meeting, Rana told reporters that for any political process to begin, the leaders of the party need to be released.
There is “anguish about developments particularly about lockdown of the people and we, as a party, appeal that the political process to start and democ
racy to revive in Jammu and Kashmir political detainees anywhere and everywhere, whether from mainstream political parties or otherwise who have no criminal record, may be released to initiate the process and the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are won,” he said.
On a question about the party’s participation in block development committee elections, he said, “See there is a complete lockdown. If the political process has to start then these members have to be released.” We are happy they are both well and in high spirits. Of course, they are pained and anguished about developments, particularly lockdown of the people,” Rana further added. The NC leader said the party’s working committee would decide on the future course of action whenever the party leaders including the NC president and vicepresident would be released.
Meanwhile, a senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that a delegation, led by General Secretary Ved Mahajan, will meet party president Mehbooba Mufti, who is currently under detention in Srinagar, on Monday.