NCP MP Supriya Sule perhaps intended to gain some sympathy for NC chief Farooq Abdullah when she tried to point at his empty chair and stated that while such an important issue (Article 370 and bifurcation) regarding Jammu and Kashmir is being discussed in the parliament, his profound absence will mean the debate will always be incomplete.
Sule’s attempt was brutally shut down by Home Minister Amit Shah who informed the house that Abdullah is neither arrested nor detained but had absconded Lok Sabha out of his own free will.
Soon after the Home Minster’s statement, Abdullah was up and about giving media bytes. Speaking to media persons at his house, Abdullah stated that why he would stay inside his house when ‘his state is being burned’ and his ‘people are being executed in jails’, completely missing the irony in his statement.
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Looking hale and hearty and standing comfortably on his porch, Abdullah further claimed that the Home Minister is lying that he is at home out of his own free will. He further claimed that what is being done is totally undemocratic and unconstitutional. He stated, “As soon as the gates open, we will go and fight”.
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Abdullah, who had earlier on several occasions threatened the central government over the Kashmir issue, claimed that he is neither a grenade thrower nor a stone pelter. He added that he will go to court. He also asked the government to fire on his chest if they want to kill him, not on his back.
However, Abdullah did not care to explain why he had not attended the parliament when he is visibly healthy and has media access, meaning he is not detained.
Back in the parliament, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor tried to pick up where Supriya Sule had left. Tharoor claimed that whereabouts of Farooq Abdullah is ‘unclear’. Upon this, Home Minister Amit Shah replied that he has already made it clear thrice that Abdullah is neither arrested nor detained, but has chosen to stay at home out of his own free will.
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Amit Shah further added that Tharoor can speak to Abdullah if he wants to confirm. He stated further that if Abdullah does not want to come to the parliament, the government cannot force him at gunpoint to come.
It is notable here that many Kashmiri separatists and politicians have been peddling Pakistan’s propaganda over the entire subject. Earlier there were also claims that separatist leader Yasin Malik has died inside the jail, which proved to be false.
Farooq Abdullah had maintained silence over the issue so far. But looking at today’s proceedings in the Lok Sabha, it is becoming apparent that the opposition’s attempt’s to paint him as a victim in order to further their own agenda of peddling ‘government atrocities’ narrative has backfired miserably.
Former Jammu and Kashmir CMS Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah are currently being detained at a government guest house to prevent law and order situations in Srinagar.