Kashmir: Congress hails NC delegation's meeting with Farooq Abdullah

After a 15-member National Conference (NC) delegation met former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday, Congress leaders lauded this move. Former Member of Parliament (MP) Sandeep Dikshit described it as a “good sign”. However, he expressed his concern about keeping political leaders under house arrest. According to Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi, this meeting indicated that the situation in J&K was heading towards normalcy. He added that the confidence of the locals would be strengthened. 

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Dikshit said, “The meeting is a good sign. We will at least get to know what their condition is. But I do not understand why the political leaders are being kept under detention." He added, "Keeping people under the house arrest in these situations is not good. It is the sign of a government, which is afraid. You had formed government in the state with these leaders in the past, and now have put them under house arrest when they showed dissent with your decision." KTS Tulsi remarked, "This is an indication that the situation is moving towards normalcy. This development will give confidence to the local people."

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The meeting

The former J&K CM has been under detention since the revocation of special status to the State. Recently, he was officially charged under the provisions of the Public Safety Act. The NC delegation included the party's Lok Sabha MPs Hasnain Masoodi and Akbar Lone. They received permission for the meeting from the J&K Governor Satyapal Malik.

Read | NC Urges J&K Guv To Let Party Delegation Meet Farooq & Omar Abdullah

Posing for the cameras, Abdullah appeared to be in good health with his traditional headgear and signature grey suit. His wife Molly stood beside him as they welcomed the NC leaders. They are expected to call on Omar Abdullah later in the day.

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