Srinagar/Aug,5: Law enforcing authorities on Wednesday foiled a crucial meeting of opposition mainstream leaders here at the Gupkar residence of National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullahas as none of the leaders invited for the meet were allowed to move out of their fortified residential houses.
Witnessed said that all roads leading to the residence of National Conference President, a three time former Chief Minister and sitting MP from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency were sealed with concertina wires.
The leaders from different political parties including Congress, CPI (M), PDP, JKPM, PDF and others were scheduled to attend the crucial meeting which was being held a year after the abrogation of Article 370. However, the leaders who were scheduled to attend the meeting said that they have been put under house detention and have been asked not to venture out of their homes.
CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami asked that is this the normalcy which government is talking about? “How can you claim the normalcy when the leaders are not even being allowed to hold a meeting,” he said. He said he was scheduled to attend the meeting today, but, was asked not to venture out of his home . Responding to the curbs on the leaders invited for the meet the National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said ” I have been told that all the pleaders invited to attend the meeting have been placed under house detention . “They claim political process has started in Kashmir, but not a single leader was allowed to reach my residence.” A police official said that section 144 remains in force across Srinagar and violations of restrictions won’t be allowed at all .
NC vice-president Omar Abdullah took to his twitter handle to respond to the restrictions on the leaders invited for the meeting as he wrote: “One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals & no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation.”
In another tweet, Omar wrote: “Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15 day celebration to mark 5th Aug & a handful of us aren’t allowed to meet in my father’s lawn. So much for BJP national leaders wondering why there is no political activity.”
In another tweet the former chief minister of erstwhile State of J&K, wrote: “One year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet much less carry out any normal political activity. This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir.”
