Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, whose six-month detention under PSA was revoked by J&K government on March 13, has appealed to the Centre to bring back all detainees from J&K in prisons outside the state, pending their release.
In a first detailed statement, he said he has consciously avoided making any political statements since he was released from detention.
“While I believe a free & frank exchange of political views is essential so that we can take stock of the momentous changes that J&K has seen after August 5, 2019, we are still some way away from an environment where such political discourse will be possible,” the statement said. “This is especially so considering the number of people detained in August last year who remain in jails outside J&K.”
He said he was aware that compared to hundreds of Kashmiri families he was far more fortunate.
“I was detained at home & my family had access to me. Yesterday when I went to meet my son Omar, also detained under the Public Safety Act, I had to travel a kilometre from my home to be able to see him,” he said. “For families of most of the detainees meeting their loved ones is not nearly as easy. Their loved ones have been detained in jails spread across a number of states. They get two visits a month for which they have to spend large sums of money they can ill afford traveling to & staying in the vicinity of these prisons,” the statement said.
He said the already onerous financial burden is made worse by the health risk they now face because of COVID-19. “At a time when people are being advised not to travel, these families are being forced to put their lives at risk in order to meet their loved ones for a few short but very precious hours,” he said. “Before we allow politics to divide us, I appeal to all political leaders here to unite behind the call to the Union government to bring back all detainees from J&K in prisons outside pending their release.
“This is a humanitarian demand & I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India,” he said.
