Jammu and Kashmir govt revokes Farooq Abdullah’s detention under PSA

Over seven months after he was detained, Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday revoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) imposed on National Conference patron and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah.

“In exercise of powers conferred under section 19 (1) of the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No. DMS/PSA/120/2019 dated 15-09-2019 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar….. of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, with immediate effect,” an order issued by J&K Principal Secretary Home Department, reads.

However, the order did not give any reason for Abdullah's release. Octogenarian Abdullah, who currently represents the Srinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha, was detained along with dozens of other senior politicians following the revocation of special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019. He was booked under stringent PSA and formally arrested on September 15.

Immediately after his release, the NC patron said he was “grateful” to all those who fought for his freedom, and called for the release of other detainees, including his son Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, both former CMs.

“I am free, I am free,” he told reporters outside his Gupkar residence, here.

However, he said, he will not make any political statement over any issue till other detained leaders are released. “I will go to the parliament and will raise the voice there,” the NC patron added.

Flamboyant Abdullah’s detention under the controversial PSA had generated debate, especially as he is incumbent MP. Days ago, eight opposition parties wrote a letter to the government, demanding his release along with other political leaders. The joint resolution warned that “democratic dissent is being muzzled” in the erstwhile state.

When he was first placed under house arrest on August 5, several opposition MPs raised the issue in the Parliament. This prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to tell the house that Abdullah was “not detained or arrested.”

He was the first chief minister against whom the PSA was invoked. The PSA is a preventive detention law, under which a person is taken into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order”.

It is very similar to the National Security Act that is used by other state governments for preventive detention.

Politicians welcome Abdullah's release

The NC termed the release a “step in the right direction towards restoring genuine political process in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement NC provincial president Davender Rana said Abdullah is a symbol of mainstream politics in Jammu and Kashmir.

“To have senior political leader like Farooq Abdullah booked and detained under PSA was unfortunate. We welcome the to release Abdullah who has always worked to strengthen democracy and democratic values in J&K,” he said and added the process would receive further fillip when party vice-president Omar Abdullah and other political detainees are set free.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated Mehbooba Mufti demanded the release of all those detained following revocation of the special status of the erstwhile state under Article 370 of the Constitution.

“Time to release all detainees including thousands of young men languishing in jails outside J&K. This has gone on for far too long & must end now,” she tweeted.

The CPI (M) leader and former legislator M Y Tarigami described Abdullah’s release as a “step to correct one wrong among many wrongs.”

People’s Conference led by Sajjad Lone also welcomed the release of Abdullah.