The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) on National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah, six months after he was detained under the stringent law in his house at Gupkar Road in Srinagar.
Hours after the order to revoke the PSA was issued, Farooq, flanked by his wife Mollie Abdullah and daughter Safia Abdullah and her kids, addressed the media from the terrace of his house.
“I am thankful to those, in and outside the country, who talked about our freedom,’’ he said. “And I also thank Allah that today I am a free man before all of you.”
He, however, said this freedom was not complete as many leaders, including his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, are still in detention.
“To set them free is very important,’’ he said and added, “I will not make any political statements unless all those who have been detained in homes, MLA hostel and jails in and outside the state are released.”
He expressed hope that the government of India will act soon to release everyone if they want the people of the state to have freedom to live.
Soon after the news of revocation of Farooq’s PSA was out, a posse of journalists gathered outside his house. A few NC workers were also seen waiting outside Farooq’s house to catch a glimpse of their leader.
“I am also thankful to the media for highlighting our plight and detention, and the difficulties we had to endure,’’ he said. “I can’t come down as I have undergone an eye surgery,” the 83-year-old leader said.
He said he will not answer to any questions or make any political statements until everyone is released. “Only when they are released, I will be able to talk about political matters,’’ he said.
“I am grateful to you (media) that you have been standing for many hours outside this gate, and thank god, this gate is open. You tried for so many months. Today I don’t have words. Today I am free, God bless you all,” Abdullah, a sitting MP from Srinagar, said.
He said he was thankful to all the MPs who spoke for his freedom in the Parliament. “I will be able to go to Delhi, attend the Parliament and speak for the people of the state.”
Surprise move
The surprise revocation of PSA against the NC president came three days after it was extended by three months on March 11. The withdrawal of PSA also came a day after the government lifted curbs on the movement of his sister Khalida Shah and brother Mustafa Kamal after more than seven months.
“Since yesterday we are able to move freely and there are no curbs now,’’ said Muzaffar Shah, Khalida’s son.
The revocation of PSA on the NC president has happened after the launch of Apni Party by former PDP leader and minister Altaf Bukhari in Srinagar. Several former MLAs from the PDP and the Congress are members of the new party.
Safia Abdullah, Farooq’s daughter, told THE WEEK that they learned about the development from a tweet by the government.
“We are happy that the PSA has been revoked on Farooq sahib,’’ she said, and added: “We are still trying to assess the situation.”
Repeal of Article 370
Farooq was among 50 odd politicians who were kept under ‘preventive detention’ after the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories (UTs) on August5, 2019.
Among those detained were his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Both Omar and Mehbooba were slapped with the PSA on February 7 after having been under preventive detention since August 5, 2019.
Omar has been lodged at Hari Niwas on Gupkar Road while Mehbooba at a government bungalow on M A Road.
The PSA was slapped on Farooq on September 16, 2019, after 42 days of preventive detention, a day before MDMK general secretary Vaiko filed a plea before the Supreme Court and demanded that the NC president be produced before the court.
Speaking in the Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had denied that the MP from Srinagar was under detention and said he was having a good time at his home and the government couln't force him to attend the Parliament.
Released under pressure?
The ending of detention of Farooq is significant as both the US and EU leaders have been constantly demanding his and other detainees’ release.
The US and EU envoys, who were brought to Kashmir by the Centre after the abrogation of Article 370, had demanded access to the three former chief ministers which was denied. That had prompted the EU to distance itself from the envoys' visit to Kashmir.
NC MP Hasnain said the lifting of PSA on Farooq is a good beginning towards the release of all the detainees.
“ I hope this will lead to the release of all the political detainees,’’ he said. “I am hopeful he (Farooq) will attend the Parliament on Monday.”
Wife's care
Farooq’s wife Mollie had come from London to stay with him after he was detained under the PSA in his house.
She had been a source of strength for him all these days. A trained nurse, Mollie has also been looking after her husband’s health and diet.
She has also been arranging home cooked meals for his son and had visited him along with her daughter on his 50th birthday.
