Todays meeting called to see if leaders are allowed to attend, Dr Abdullah

Former Chief Minister and president of the National Conference (NC) Dr Farooq Abdullah Thursday evening said todays meeting of leaders called at his residence was just to see if government will allow them to attend.

We did not discuss any politics during the meeting, he said adding we have called similar meetings of other leaders, who we believe are under house arrest, in the coming days. Tomorrow five more leaders have been called for the meeting at my Gupkar residence, he said.

Talking to reporters NC MP from Srinagar said we have called this meeting only to see whether the administration will allow them to attend or they will remain under house arrest. Thank God they were allowed to attend the meeting, he said adding we hope other leaders will also be allowed to attend similar party meetings called tomorrow and coming days.

I hope they will remain free to go anywhere they like, Dr Abdullah said and demanded release of other leaders, including PDP president and former Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Six senior leader—Party General Secretary Ali Mohmmad Sagar, former ministers Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri and Nasir Aslam Wani. Two party MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone and Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi were also present when Dr Abdullah talking to reporters.

Vice president and former CM in a tweet this evening said “How sad that we have normalised this illegal detention! That we have to be “allowed” to meet freely in spite of the government claiming in court that none of these leaders are detained is a blot on Indian democracy & rule of law.

Dr Abdullah and Omar had filed a number of petitions alleging that despite release from detention , about 16 senior NC leaders have been put under house arrest.