Faizan Ahmad
SRINAGAR, March 13 (KINS): Leaders of the National Conference and other parties Friday welcomed releasing of former chief minister Farooq Abdullah after remaining in detention for seven months.
While leaders of other parties welcome his release, his party leaders say “Tiger is Back”.
“Tiger is Back,” says Sarah Hayat Shah, who is a youth leader of the National Conference. “We all need to take Kashmir forward, together. Can’t afford being divided. Say no to divide and rule policy,” she tweeted.
Another youth leader of the National Conference Salman Sagar said, “Tiger is back. It is really overwhelming to meet our party patron Jenab Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sahab who was released today after over seven months.”
Spokesperson of the National Conference Imran Nabi Dar tweeted: “Belated but finally, tiger is out of the cage. Now eagerly waiting for the release of Omar Abdullah, Sagar Sahab, and others.”
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor while reacting to Farooq’s release said, “Welcome the belated release of Farooq Abdullah. I hope he will soon resume his rightful place on the front bench of the Lok Sabha, where he can address with his usual compelling vigor the issues facing his state. His detention was a disgrace.”
Chief Minister West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, president of recently formed Apni Party, Altaf Bukhari and other leaders of various parties also welcomed his release.
Farooq was among thousands of local leaders put under house arrest a day before the Centre abrogated Article 370 on August 5. His detention under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) had generated debate, especially as he is an MP.
Days ago, eight opposition parties wrote a letter to the government, demanding his release along with other Kashmiri leaders.
The joint resolution warned that “democratic dissent is being muzzled” in J&K.
Two other former chief ministers – including his son Omar and Mehbooba Mufti – are still in detention.
The government said the move, decried by critics as draconian, was necessary to maintain law and public order in the region. (KINS)
