Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 5: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference today expressed grave concern over continued detention of mainstream leaders including three former Chief Ministers in Kashmir and sought their release for restoration of genuine political activities in this part of the country.
In a joint statement, marking five months of detention of the National Conference leaders and others since the abrogation of Article 370, the party expressed anguish over slapping of Public Safety Act on five times Chief Minister and sitting Member Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah and its further extension by three months, notwithstanding his towering political statue in the country and contribution towards nation building and steering Jammu and Kashmir to peace, tranquility and development despite numerous challenges over the decades.
The statement, issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here, also highlighted the huge contribution of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in maintaining peace and harmony, recalling his earnest appeal for maintaining calm and tranquillity hours before his detention on the midnight of August 4 last year. This speaks of the concern of National Conference for well being of the people, the statement added.
The senior National Conference leaders felt the crucial need of restoring political activities in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that filling up of democratc space will remain a far cry as long mainstream leaders remain under detention. They stressed the need for reaching out to the people in a sincere bid of assauging their aspirations.
They also demanded lifting of curbs and restoration of internet services in the larger interest of trade, commerce, industry, accademics and more importantly the educated unemployed who have to keep track on the avenues of jobs and career advancement. They hoped that the Centre will take immediate call on the need for releasing all political activists under detention in and outside Jammu and Kashmir in order to normalise the situation.
Besides Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, the signatories to the joint statement included Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Salathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Rachpal Singh, Th. Kashmira Singh, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Abdul Gani Malik, Javeed Rana, Babu Rampal, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Jagjeevan Lal, Qazi Jalal Ud Din, Sheikh Abdul Rahman, Dr. Chamanl Lal Bhagat, T.S Wazir, Ajaz Jan, Haji Mohd Hussain, Bimla Luthra, Prem Sagar Aziz, Brij Mohan Sharma, Bushan Lal Bhat, Ch. Rahim Daad, Master Noor Hussain, Deepender Kour, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Jugal Mahajan, Ch. Haroon, Anil Dhar, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Gurdeep Singh Sasan, Vipan Pal Sharma, Ch. Liaquat Ali, Dr. Kamal Arora, Ch. Mohammad Shafi, Vijay Laxami Dutta, Satwant Kour Dogra, Swaran Latta, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Pardeep Bali, Dilshad Malik, Reeta Gupta, Tanveer Ahmed Kichloo, Sajjad Shaheen, Tarshem Khullar, Ch. Nazir Hussain, Ch. Wali Daad, Ch. Arshad, Rajesh Bakashi, Subash Chander Sharma, S.S Bunty, G.H Malik, Israr Khan, S. Sucha Singh, Ashok Singh Manhas, Nar Singh, Rashida Begum, Daljeet Sharma, Iftkhair Choudhary and Som Raj Taroch.
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