NEW DELHI: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, who has been in detention since the revocation of the Constitution”s Article 370, protested the treatment of Kashmir”s politicians, saying they were “not criminals”.
In his tweet, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor along with the letter wrote:
“Letter from imprisoned Farooq saab. Members of Parliament should be allowed to attend the session as a matter of parliamentary privilege. Otherwise the tool of arrest can be used to muzzle opposition voices. Participation in parliament is essential for democracy and popular sovereignty.”
In his reply to Tharoor”s letter, the National Conference leader wrote on his personal letterhead: “Thank you for the letter dated 21st October 2019 which has been delivered to me today by the magistrate who looks after me while I am in sub jail… it is most unfortunate that they are not unable to deliver my post in time. I am sure that this is not the way to treat a senior Member of Parliament and leader of a political party… we are not criminals.”
The letter was sent from his Gupkar Road residence which has been converted to a sub jail.
Besides Abdullah, his son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, as well other senior politicians of the Valley, are under detention since August.
Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the detention of the Kashmiri leaders after he was released from jail.