After more than two months of detention, NC leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah
met with party delegation in Srinagar on Sunday.
The delegation, led by NC’s Jammu president Devendra Rana who was released from detention a few days back, first met Omar at Hari Niwas and later Farooq at his residence at Gupkar Road in Srinagar.
Rana is the younger brother of BJP MP and minister in PMO Jitender Singh Rana.
Accompanied by his wife Molly, Farooq came out of his house to greet the party colleagues. He also flashed 'victory' sign to the reporters camping outside.
Sources said the delegation enquired about Farooq's health and discussed the situation in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
Molly, who’s based in London, has returned to stay with Farooq. “ She has been with him for about a week now,’’ said Hasnain Masoodi, who, along with Akbar Lone, met Farooq. Masoodi and Lone are MPs and represent Anantnag and Baramulla Lok Sabha constituencies.
The situation in Kashmir also came up for discussion with Omar.
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Omar, who has grown beard, took a selfie with the members of the delegation.
After the meeting, Rana told reporters that for any political process to begin, the detained leaders should be released. "See, there is a complete lockdown. If the political process has to start, then these members have to be released,” he said when asked whether NC would take part in upcoming block development elections.
Farooq was slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) provisions by the J&K administration on September 16, a day before a habeas corpus petition, challenging his detention, moved by his friend and MDMK leader Vaiko came up for hearing in the Supreme Court.
The SC, in its next hearing, dismissed Vaiko’s plea and asked him to approach the relevant authorities.
Masoodi said he and Lone had sought permission separately for a meeting with Farooq and Omar. “We will now study the cases and charges against Farooq Abdullah to prepare a legal response,’’ he told THE WEEK.