Srinagar, Aug 5 (GNS): A meeting of some political parties called by National Conference president and parliamentarian Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday to “chalk out” strategy on Article 370 revocation and bifurcation of J&K by the government of India last year could not be held due to restrictions.
National Conference MP from Anantnag in south Kashmir and former high court judge Hasnain Masoodi and PDP’s Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Mir were turned away from Gupkar Road by the security establishment, citing restrictions imposed by the authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the district, NC leaders said.
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, NC MP from Baramulla in north Kashmir Akbar Lone and Farooq’s nephew Muzzafar Shah, who heads the Awami National Conference, were stopped at their residences and not allowed to go out, they said.
National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to say that the authorities in Kashmir did not allow the meeting to take place.
Omar said the Gupkar Road, leading to his residence and that of his father, was sealed by the authorities.
“One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals and no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation,” Omar Abdullah said on Twitter, along with some pictures of the deserted road.
“Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15 day celebration to mark 5th Aug and 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.”
He said the authorities were “still too afraid” to allow them to meet or carry out any normal political activity.
“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,” he said in another tweet.
Reacting to Tarigami’s tweet, Omar said: “Not to worry Tarigami Sb some senior journalists have been parachuted in to Srinagar to tell the nation how normal everything is. I suppose in a sense they are correct because this IS the new normal for “new Kashmir”.” CPI(M) leader had tweeted: “Locks on gates, lock downs as celebrations and lies as defences has been the hallmark of last year. Today, political leaders were supposed to meet at Dr Farooq Abdullah’s residence to discuss the political challenges region is facing. But unfortunately, we were not allowed.” (GNS)
