Farooq & Omar Abdullah Finally Meet Party Delegation Two Months After Article 370 Was Scrapped
Omar, who was sporting a beard, was seen clicking a selfie with party leaders.
In what is the first major political development post withdrawal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a 15-member National Conference delegation on Sunday met detained party leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
The delegation discussed developments in the state and upcoming local body polls during the separate meetings with the two leaders. The Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had given permission to the delegation to meet the leaders.
NC delegation meets Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar, clarifies stand on Article 370
¡ª ANI Digital (@ani_digital) October 6, 2019
Read @ANI story |https://t.co/z0qIdj0UXY pic.twitter.com/3WgVGYY33u
The delegation led by Jammu's provincial chief of the party Davinder Singh Rana met former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Hari Nivas for little over 30 minutes.This was the first meeting of Omar with a party delegation after he was detained on August 5, a day when the Centre announced abrogation of special status to the state under Article 370.
FILE PHOTO. BCCL
Omar, who was sporting a beard, was seen clicking a selfie with party leaders.
The delegation then drove to Farooq Abdullah's residence. Farooq, clad in a grey suit and signature headgear, flashed a victory sign as he stood with the visiting party leaders and wife Molly Abdullah for a photograph.
Emerging after the meeting, Mr Rana, as per news agency PTI, told reporters that for any political process to begin, the leaders of the party need to be released.
A deserted view of Lalchowk Srinagar on October 3, 2019 as shutdown completes two months in Kashmir. BCCL
There is "anguish about developments particularly about lockdown of the people and we, as a party, appeal that the political process to start and democracy to revive in Jammu and Kashmir political detenues anywhere and everywhere, whether from mainstream political parties or otherwise who have no criminal record, may be released to initiate the process and the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are won," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
He said the party, which has a legacy, history and a chequered track record, was of unanimous view that it would continue to strive for the welfare of the people and shall continue to work for communal harmony, brotherhood, togetherness and keep the secular fabric of the state shining.
On a question about the party's participation in block development committee elections, he said, "See there is a complete lockdown. If the political process has to start then these members have to be released.
Journalists hold placards as they attend a silent protest against the communication blockade, in Srinagar. REUTERS PHOTO
Rana said,"After restrictions on political leaders in Jammu were removed, we held a meeting in which it was decided that we will approach governor (S P Malik) to seek his permission to have an audience with the president and the vice president of the party".
¡°We are happy they are both well and in high spirits. Of course, they are pained and anguished about developments, particularly lockdown of the people," he said.
The NC leader further said the party's working committee would decide on the future course of action whenever the party leaders including the NC president and vice-president would be released.
¡°Let them be released, then the working committee of the party will meet and discuss and then we will formulate a strategy for the future,¡± Rana said when questioned about the party's future strategy.
A security personnel directing people not to cross Lal Chowk in Srinagar which was closed in the morning by the authorities and security was further beefed up as a precautionary measure fearing large gathering of people following the developments at the 74th United Nations General Assembly on Saturday. BCCL
Speaking to ANI before entering the residence of the chief, party lawmaker Akbar Lone cleared the party's stand on the abrogation of the region's special status.
"We have been cheated. We are trying to bring Article 370 back."
Another lawmaker, Hasnain Masoodi, who met Abdullah, echoed similar sentiments and sought "everything to be rolled back to what it was prior to August 5".
After the Central government decided to revoke the special constitutional status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under Article 370, two months ago, the region was placed under a communications blockade and several mainstream political leaders, including the father-son duo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti were put under house arrest.
With Inputs From Agencies