A meeting called by former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah at his residence on Wednesday could not be held due to strict restrictions put in place by the Union Territory’s administration, his son and former CM Omar Abdulla said on Twitter.
The meeting of mainstream political leaders was planned to discuss the situation arising out of the abrogation of Article 370 provisions in 2019 and to chalk out a joint political strategy for the restoration of the special status through democratic means.
Omar Abdullah, who is the vice president of the NC, questioned how the BJP gets to celebrate the first anniversary of the abrogation while Kashmir leaders can’t meet in his father’s lawn.
“One year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet much less carry out any normal political activity. This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir.”
“Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15 day celebration to mark 5th Aug & a handful of us aren’t allowed to meet in my father’s lawn. So much for BJP national leaders wondering why there is no political activity,” Omar said in another tweet.
Sharing some pictures of the Gupkar road, which leads to his residence and that of his father, Omar tweeted: “One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals & no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation.”
The NC leader also accused the BJP of hypocrisy. “BJP displaying its hypocrisy. They can gather & celebrate. The rest of us can’t even meet to discuss what’s happening in J&K.”
Even when the administration lifted the curfew that was imposed on Monday, restrictions on “movement of more than three persons” remain in place till the end of the day. Additionally, there is “complete lockdown” in containment zones due to the novel coronavirus.
Hasnain Masoodi, NC MP from Anantnag and Fayaz Mir, who is the PDP’s Rajya Sabha member, were turned away from Gupkar Road, citing restrictions imposed by the authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the district. Also, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, NC MP from Baramulla in north Kashmir Akbar Lone and Abdullah’s nephew Muzzafar Shah, who heads the Awami National Conference, were not allowed to step out of their respective houses.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Tuesday, Abdullah confirmed that he had “planned a meeting tomorrow”. “But you see, they have already stationed (security) vehicles outside our houses, they have closed it (entry). Is this the government,” he said.
On August 4 last year, the mainstream leaders had assembled at Abdullah’s residence and vowed to “stand united in their struggle for safeguarding identity, autonomy and special status of the state”.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti said that “prolonged enforced silence” would not “suppress” the emotions of the people of Kashmir forever. “A year ago we witnessed how a majoritarian govt mutilated & robbed J&K in broad daylight.Seasons may have changed but the betrayal will never be forgiven or forgotten. Prolonged enforced silence wont suppress emotions forever,” Iltija posted via her mother’s Twitter handle, which she has been using since Mehbooba was taken into custody in August last year.
