Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: Expressing grave concern over detention of mainstream leaders including three former Chief Ministers in the Kashmir Valley for six months now, National Conference today sought their immediate release and restoration of political activities.
“Prolonged detentions is a matter of grave concern for us all, especially as detained leaders like Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have all along worked towards strengthening democracy and sustaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir”, senior National Conference leaders, led by Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said, in a joint statement issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon,
The statement recalled the huge contribution of the mainstream leaders in maintaining harmony and tranquility, especially during the turbulent times of the past three decades and said their detention and curbs on communication channels will in no way help Jammu and Kashmir to come out of the difficult situation. The senior leaders stressed the crucial need of restoration of political activities, saying filling up of democratic space will remain a far cry as long mainstream leaders remain under detention.
The National Conference leaders urged the Centre to take steps for releasing the political activists and leaders including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. They also called for massive reach to win over the hearts and minds of the people, saying this will herald a new era of peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, those who were present in the meeting 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.