'Detention' of senior leaders in J&K unconstitutional, undemocratic: Opposition

Several Opposition parties on Tuesday termed the "detention" of senior leaders in Jammu and Kashmir unconstitutional and undemocratic and lashed out at the government over its "farcical lies" on their house arrest in the state. Even as National Congress leader Omar Abdullah and PDP's Mehbooba Mufti remained incommunicado since the announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday that provisions of Article 370 stand revoked in Jammu and Kashmir, NC patron Farooq Abdullah spoke out on Tuesday contesting the government's claim that no one was under detention or arrest.

Contesting Shah's assertion in Parliament, Abdullah said he "broke the door" to come out and speak to the media. "I heard the statement of the home minister that Farooq Abdullah is free and is staying in the house out of his own will. I thought how can he be lying when a DSP has been placed outside my house and no one can come in and no one can go out," he told a TV channel.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that leaders of political parties in Kashmir were jailed at secret locations, which was "unconstitutional and undemocratic", and demanded their immediate release. "Arrest of Kashmir leaders short sighted and foolish, will allow terrorists to fill leadership vacuum created by government," he said.

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that Shah was lying about Abdullah. "The Home Minister is lying about a sitting MP and a three-time former CM. It is shameful that this govt has to resort to farcical lies which are immediately exposed. We have still not heard from our cadre in the state, including MLA Comrade Yusuf Tarigami," he said in a tweet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said former chief ministers Mufti and Omar Abdullah were not "terrorists" and appealed to the Centre to immediately release them in the "interest of democracy". "We do not have any information regarding senior leaders like Farooq Abdullah ji, but we have seen in the media that (Mehbooba) Mufti and Omar Abdullah have been arrested.

"I request and appeal to the government that they are also Kashmiri people, and our brothers and sisters. They should not feel isolated," she said. Speaking to the media, Abdullah said he knew of his son and Mufti's arrest only through the media.

"There is no written order but we have been placed under house arrest. We believe in law, we are not stone pelters or killers. We have never used the path of gun. We have always used Mahatma Gandhi's way... Why is this done? What is the need," he asked. TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien said it is necessary that the democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir are allowed to function.

"Please release Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti... Let the democratic institutions of Jammu and Kashmir function. We are with the people of Jammu and Kashmir... We are concerned about both the leaders," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)