First Time After 5 Months, NC, PDP Hold Meetings In Srinagar

For the first time in near about five months, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party held meetings on Monday at their respective offices. NC held the meeting at its headquarter in Srinagar and a resolution demanding the release of detained leaders was passed. The PDP meeting was held at the party office at Srinagar’s commercial hub.

“It was primarily called to discuss the upcoming anniversary of Mufti Sahib . The second rung leadership met for the first time and discussed several issues. Everyone demanded that the leadership be released and once they are released, the party will decide the future course of action,” Indian Express quoted a PDP leader as saying.

Earlier, the detention of Farooq Abdullah was extended by three months and he would continue to remain at his residence that has been declared a sub-jail. The case of Abdullah, also a five-term parliamentarian, was reviewed by the advisory board of the Home Department of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which recommended extension of his detention under the PSA.

His house, located at Gupkar Road, has been declared a sub-jail by the the union territory’s Home Department. The 82-year-old Abdullah, who became the first chief minister against whom the stringent public safety law was invoked, has a heart pacemaker implanted and had undergone a kidney transplant a few years ago.

Besides Abdullah, his son and former chief minister Omar and ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti, several other leaders have also been under detention since August 5.

An emotional Abdullah had told the media on August 6 that he was pained at the Centre’s decision on Article 370.