NC urges govt to free politicians after 3 months of detention in J&K

National Conference (NC) has urged the government to free the political prisoners who were being detained in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Farooq Abdullah-led NC has also demanded the government to permit political activities and normalise the situation in the valley. 

In a statement, the NC said that November 5 marks three months since the Centre withdrew the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and its bifurcation into two Union Territories and the "unprecedented lockdown on communication and civil liberties." The party further stated that its been over 90 days since the people of Kashmir are denied basic facilities like internet access and unhindered access to communication. The NC said even basic SMS facilities are not being allowed.

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"We urge the government to take urgent steps to normalise the situation and allow democratic activity to take place with the release of all mainstream political leaders detained since August 5 including three former chief ministers," the NC said in the statement.

The NC said while the government has talked about restoring the paralysed education system, schools have hardly functioned, colleges even less so and Kashmir University has not even opened after summer holidays. The NC said commerce in the Valley has been reduced to business conducted on handcarts. "Absence of the Internet has hurt people who need proper healthcare, has hurt students and the business community," it said.

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Political leaders detained

Subsequent to the revocation of Article 370, mainstream political leaders, including three former chief ministers of the state, were detained and communication was blacked out citing 'security concerns.' On October 14, the postpaid calling services were started in the valley and the government had then announced that the political leaders, detained in Kashmir, would be released in phases and that the situation in Kashmir is gradually restoring back to normalcy. 

Former chief minister's of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been detained among the others. The Centre even slapped NC patron Farooq Abdullah with PSA. Meanwhile, the Centre has claimed that the situation in the valley is being restored back to normalcy. The communication blockade still prevails in the valley, while landline connections have been restored in some parts of Kashmir. Schools and universities have reopened, however, there is a lack of attendance. According to reports, the state administration has been regularly reporting on the medical facilities in the valley.

(With PTI inputs) 

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