Two months on, NC leaders meet Abdullahs in Srinagar
KASHMIR DETENTIONS National Conference appeals Centre to release leaders
SRINAGAR: In the first major political development following the withdrawal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a 15-member National Conference delegation on Sunday met detained party leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
The delegation discussed developments in the state and upcoming local body polls during separate meetings with the two leaders. The Jammu and Kashmir government had given permission to the delegation to meet the leaders.
The NC delegation, led by Jammu provincial president Devender Singh Rana, flew to Srinagar early on Sunday for the meeting.
There is “anguish about developments particularly about lockdown of the people and we, as a party, appeal that the political process to start and democracy to revive in Jammu and Kashmir political detenues 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,” Rana said after the meeting.
Farooq Abdullah is under house arrest at his Srinagar residence while his son Omar – both former chief ministers -- is detained at a state guest house.
A delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party team has also been granted permission to meet party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is among the leaders under house arrest, in Srinagar on Monday, news agency ANI reported.
When asked whether the NC will fight the upcoming Block Development Council (BDC ) elections, Rana said, “See there is a complete lockdown. If the political process has to start then these members have to be released... Even if we want to contest the BDC elections, the 380 panchayats that exist, if we get the people to sign the mandate, the mandate has to be signed by party president Farooq Abdullah, who has been unfortunately detained under PSA. Let them be released and then the working committee of the party will meet and formulate a strategy.”
NC spokesperson Madan Mantoo on Saturday said the decision to meet the two leaders was taken during an emergency meeting of the senior functionaries and district presidents of Jammu on Wednesday, soon after restrictions on the movement of Jammu-based National Conference leaders were lifted.
He also said that the party was anguished over the continued