Published 16:23 IST, February 5th 2020
Congress stages walkout in Lok Sabha, demands release of Abdullahs, other detained leaders
Congress party leaders on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha while demanding the reals of Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and other detained leaders
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The Congress party on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha. The leaders of the party were demanding the release of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and other Jammu and Kashmir leaders who have been detained.
Congress staged walk out in Lok Sabha earlier today, demanding the release of Farooq Abdullah & other J&K leaders from detention. pic.twitter.com/6EqqKgZVRU
— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2020
Farooq Abdullah and several other leaders, including Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti were detained after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Abdullah's detention was extended for three more months under the Public Safety Act in December last year. The three-term chief minister of the former state continues to remain at his residence, which has been declared a sub-jail.
'Are will a democracy?'- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had taken to her official Twitter handle and slammed the government over the detention of two Ex-Chief Ministers. She stated that for the last 6 months, the two former CMs and other leaders have been incarcerated, and millions of other people were locked down.
Its been six months since two Ex-Chief Ministers have been incarcerated without any charges and millions of people were locked down in J&K.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 5, 2020
Six months ago we were asking how long this will carry on?
Now we are asking whether we are still a democracy or not.
Abrogation of Article 370
On August 5, Parliament abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that exempted Jammu and Kashmir from following the Indian Constitution except for Article 1 and itself, thus giving special rights to the state. Additionally, the Modi government bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir and changed its status to Union Territories - Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.
Ahead of the historic decision, the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed around 40,000 troops in the state and placed the mainstream leaders including three chief ministers - NC's Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and PDP's Mehbooba Mufti under what they called "preventive custody". The Centre after intimation from Army also evacuated Amarnath yatris, and the Chinar Corps of Indian Army revealed that they had intelligence inputs that there were attempts of attacks on Amarnath Yatra by Pakistan.
Centre imposed a complete ban on the internet in the valley and phone lines including mobile networks were shut. The central government said that it was done to prevent fake news and provocation from Pakistan. After six months of revocation, and SC's direction, the government restored internet broadband facilities. The Modi government has set up massive developmental plans for the valley, however many areas are still under lockdown.
(With inputs from ANI)
16:23 IST, February 5th 2020