By Shuriah Niazi
NEW DELHI (AA) – Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday claimed that he was detained by Indian government in his house, said media reports.
He was reacting to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement, who told parliament that Abdullah, is neither under detention nor under arrest.
“He (Abdullah) is at his home of his own will,” he said.
Abdullah, who is also lawmaker was supposed to attend the debate in the lower house of Indian parliament on Tuesday, which approved legislation to revoke the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir in Indian Constitution and also divided the state into two parts.
Senior most pro-India politician in Kashmir told a TV channel that he was detained in his house. He said he "broke the door" to come out and speak to the media.
"This is not the India I believe in. Why would I stay inside my house on my own will, when my state is being burnt, when my people are being sent to jails?” Abdullah asked.
His absence in parliament was noted by opposition benches, who wondered whether the leader was unwell.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded release of all pro-India or the mainstream political leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.
“Kashmir's mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic. It's also short sighted and foolish because, it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vacuum created by Indian government. The imprisoned leaders must be released,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi also warned that the move to revoke special status of Kashmir will have grave implications for national security.
"National integration is not furthered by unilaterally tearing apart Jammu and Kashmir, imprisoning elected representatives and violating the Constitution. This nation is made by its people, not plots of land. This abuse of executive power has grave implications for our national security," Gandhi said on Twitter.