March 15, 2020
Farooq Abdullah Released After 7-month Detention
By Syed Rifaquat Ali
The three-time former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Dr.Farooq Abdullah was released in Srinagar yesterday (March 13) after seven-month detention under the Public Safety Act which his father, Sheikh Abdullah, had enacted to curb timber smuggling.
The order to revoke his detention was signed by the principal secretary in the Home Department, Shaleen Kabra. Dr.Abdullah was detained in Srinagar when Article 370 of the Indian constitution was revoked on August 5 last year and Jammu & Kashmir was split in two Union Territories.
He was later detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) which was vociferously
condemned by all political parties and prominent public figures in India. After his release in Srinagar, Dr.Abdullah told media at his Gupkar Road residence in Srinagar, which was turned into sub-jail for his detention, that "I cannot believe I am free."
Dr Abdullah said that he will attend the Parliament if allowed, and will raise the problems of Kashmir people in the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Dr.Abdullah was flanked by his wife Molly and daughter Safia when he met the media.
Just days before his detention was revoked, Dr.Abdullah had undergone a minor eye surgery since old age is overtaking his health. While Dr.Abdullah has been released,
his son, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both former chief ministers of Kashmir, are still in detention.
It is not the question of detention of ex- Kashmir chief ministers under PSA by the Bharatiya Janta Party, but the application of draconian law in all its forms on other political leaders and public figures in India which has been widely condemned throughout the country and overseas too. Today India is a democratic country only on paper.
The ground reality is that there is no freedom of speech and a sense of fear prevails amongst media personnel to confront the government on any national issue. Democracy is dead in India.
And all democratic countries in the world seem to be deaf and dumb and millions of people continue to suffer beyond comprehension. The Muslims are the worst sufferers.
The recent riots (February 25) in East Delhi where Muslim men, women and children, were targeted by Hindu goons with police complicity, are living testimony to BJP despotic rule and hatred for the minorities.
Syed Rifaquat Ali is Sydney-based journalist
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