NC reiterates demand to release detained Jammu & Kashmir politicians

The National Conference (NC) on Monday reiterated its demand for releasing all political leaders from detention and restoration of political activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Terming the detention of political leaders "unprecedented and undemocratic", NC Secretary Rattan Lal Gupta said it was imperative to release all the leaders and others detained since August 5 when the Centre revoked the provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Three former chief ministers -- National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti -- are among the mainstream politicians currently under detention in Kashmir. "The detention of the political leaders is against the democratic ethos of the country," Gupta said in a statement here.

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He also sought a survey of the damages caused to the fruit cultivation by the recent snowfall in the valley and advocated interim compensation to the affected. Gupta said the government must expedite restoration of power supply and road connectivity by undertaking snow clearance measures across the valley and in parts of the Jammu region.

The 82-year-old former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after the abrogation of Article 370. He shares a good rapport with Banerjee and had attended the "United India Rally" held in Kolkata on January 19. 

Kashmir situation

On October 14, the postpaid calling services were started in the valley and the government had then announced that the political leaders, detained in Kashmir, would be released in phases and that the situation in Kashmir is gradually restoring back to normalcy. Nearly 10.78 lakh metric tonnes of fresh apples have been transported out of Kashmir valley to date this season, a senior official said on Friday. "To date, 10.78 lakh MT of apples have been dispatched to outside mandis as against 11.74 lakh MT during the same period last year," Horticulture Secretary Manzoor Ahmad Lone said.

(With PTI inputs) 

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