While we would like to see them all released as soon as possible, pending that they should be shifted to J-K. This is a humanitarian demand and I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India,” he said.

The member of Parliament, who represents Srinagar in the Lok Sabha, also pointed out he has been “far more fortunate” than the hundreds of Kashmiri families, whose relatives are under detention.

“I was detained at home and my family had access to me. Yesterday, when I went to meet my son Omar, also detained under the Public Safety Act, I had to travel a kilometre from my home to be able to see him,” he said.

He pointed out it has not been as easy for the families of most of the detainees.

“Their loved ones have been detained in jails spread across a number of states. They get two visits a month for which they have to spend large amounts of money they can ill afford travelling to and staying in the vicinity of these prisons,” Farooq Abdullah said.

The NC leader said the financial burden on them is made worse by the health risk they now face because of coronavirus.

At a time when people are being advised not to travel, these families are being forced to put their lives at risk in order to meet their loved ones for a few short but very precious hours,” he said.

Farooq Abdullah had said after his release that he would not make any political statements immediately and will rather speak for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament.

He, however, demanded the immediate release of his son Omar and Mehbooba Mufti along with other political leaders still under detention.