Centre dictatorial, wants to kill us: Farooq
SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Chairman Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday lashed out at the central government over scrapping of Article 370 and accused union Home Minister Amit Shah of lying about his situation.
“They want to kill us,” Abdullah told reporters from the terrace of his residence.
“People are being locked up, (former Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah is in jail. We are not grenade-throwers or stone-pelters. My India is a democratic, secular India for all. We believe in peaceful resolution for change. This is undemocratic,” he said.
On the central government’s decision to scrap Article 370, Abdullah said that this is unconstitutional. “It is dictatorship by Modi government. We have never been the ones who want to separate nor do we want to separate from this nation.
“But, don’t take away our honour and dignity... we are not slaves,” he said.
“Dictatorial authority has been evoked and not a democratic one. I don’t know how many have been arrested. Nobody is allowed to come in or go out, we are under house arrest,” he said.
Abdullah said that the doors of his house have been closed and he can not move out.
“The HM is lying,” he said in response to Amit Shah telling Parliament that “he has not been detained or arrested and is at his house at his own will.”
Describing the Modi government’s “arrest” of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Muti as “unconstitutional and undemocratic,” outgoing Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the Modi government’s “short-sighted” action will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vaccum.
“Kashmir’s mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“It’s also short-sighted and foolish because it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vaccum created by the government of India. The imprisoned leaders must be released,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted. The Congress leader’s remarks came a day ater National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and PDP Chief Mehbooba Muti were arrested on Monday evening ater President Ram Nath Kovind revoked the provisions of Article 370, that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.