For the first time since his release from detention, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, on Friday stepped out of his Gupkar residence and stopped by one of the leading electronic goods shops at the Residency Road, Srinagar to purchase mobile phones for himself and his family.
The National Conference MP, who continues to enjoy Z-security after his release, seemed to be in a good mood.
“He was in a good mood and was more interested to listen to what people had to say about the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” the shop owner said.
Abdullah was released on March 13 this year and since then he is keeping a low profile. He was arrested on August 5, 2019, the day the BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories -- Ladakh and J&K. One of the charges in the PSA dossier against Abdullah was his statement wherein he was quoted as having said, “If Article 370 is temporary, then Jammu and Kashmir’s ties with India are also temporary.” After his release, the NC leader for a long time refused to talk about political issues. Soon after his release, he had said he will not talk politics till all leaders are released.
However, on June 19, in a first major political statement amid India-China stand-off along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, NC sought restoration of Article 370 and nullification of decisions taken on August 5, 2019 regarding Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP government.
Before August 5, when Article 370 and Article 35A of Indian constitution were in vogue, Jammu and Kashmir was a State and had a separate constitution called the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh region was part of Jammu and Kashmir state. Article 35A was prohibiting people from outside from buying property in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and ensuring job reservation for permanent residents.
The National Conference has called for the need to restore special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the constitutional guarantees extended from time to time under binding covenants, unconstitutionally, arbitrarily and unilaterally taken away on August 5, 2019.
