Srinagar, March 24: While welcoming the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to revoke the PSA on National Conference (NC) leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Secretary CPI(M) Ghulam Nabi Malik on Tuesday urged the government to release political leaders, activists and civil society members, who were detained arbitrarily after August 5, 2019.
Omar Abdullah’s release is a step to correct one wrong among many wrongs. Though late, the decision to revoke the PSA of Omar Abdullah is welcome. In the wake of spread of deadly conrnavirus, the government should release all the detainees, who were detained after August 5, including PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement chief, Dr Shah Faesal.
Some of the detainees were shifted to outside J&K jails and they are still languishing there. In prevailing situation, it is imperative on the government to set them free without any further delay. There is a political vacuum in Kashmir after the detention of leaders of regional political parties. Such a vacuum exists in other areas of life also.
The lockdown and the restrictions on communications aggravated the situation. These have been relaxed, but many are still in place. The government must restore 4G internet services immediately as it could provide some relief to the people, who are confined to their homes due to the threat of cornavirus.
