The police did not allow Abdullah, a three-time chief minister of J&K and several times MP, to enter the premises; after which Singh climbed the gate and talked to Abdullah, who was standing on the other side.
Photo: SNS
A high-pitched drama unfolded in Srinagar on Thursday when the police locked the gates of the government guest house and prevented former chief minister and president of the ruling National Conference (NC), Dr Farooq Abdullah, from meeting AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, who was staying there. Former Delhi minister and MLA Imran Hussain was also with Singh.
The police did not allow Abdullah, a three-time chief minister of J&K and several times MP, to enter the premises; after which Singh climbed the gate and talked to Abdullah, who was standing on the other side.
Advertisement
Videos posted by Singh and the NC show that the police had chained the gate of the guest house. The AAP MP was not allowed to protest against the arrest and slapping of PSA on Mehraj Malik, AAP MLA from Doda, or address a press conference.
Advertisement
Singh said he has been put under “house arrest” inside the guest house. He is seen in the video pleading with the policemen to let him meet Abdullah and also address a press conference.
Slamming the media houses that were writing Singh’s house arrest as his claim, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “This is not just a claim, it’s a reality. Unfortunately, whenever something like this happens, the media describes it as ‘alleged’ or ‘claimed.’ But it is a fact, we were arrested or assaulted. It is true that Sanjay Singh was under house arrest, and the reasons can only be explained by those responsible for it. These kinds of actions are becoming repetitive. On one hand, it is said that there is peace in J&K, that the environment is peaceful, and people are happy. But the reality is quite different. Harsh actions are being taken against us, and law and order are being misused without justification. The PSA imposed on Doda MLA Mehraj Malik is another example, he was arrested without any valid reason”, the CM added.
An annoyed Farooq Abdullah said “This is absolutely wrong. In a democracy, protest is the right given by the Constitution of India. The sad part is that J&K is a UT, and the LG has all the powers. He is using it for the wrong purposes. Was it important to prevent Sanjay Singh from speaking? This is not an autocratic rule. There is a Constitution here. The LG also has to protect the Constitution, and if he does not protect it, then I regret to say this, he should be afraid of what is happening in Nepal.
”How did the situation in Nepal deteriorate? Today, the situation is such that their Constitution has ended, and there is no government there. Look at the condition of Bangladesh. That is why I request you, before such a fire breaks out in our country, take care of the Constitution and do not go beyond its limits”.
Sanjay Singh wrote on X, “It is very unfortunate that Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir multiple times, came to meet me after hearing about my house arrest. But the police did not allow him to enter. If this is not a dictatorship, what is?”
“Dictatorship is at its peak. I am in Srinagar at this moment. Raising one’s voice for rights and protesting in a democracy is our Constitutional right. Today, there was a press conference and sit-in in Srinagar against the illegal arrest of Mehraj Malik, but the government guest house has been turned into a police camp. I am not allowed to leave the guest house with Imran Hussain and companions”, he added.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal wrote on X; “The former CM, who is the father of the current CM, is not being allowed to meet Sanjay Singh in his own state. This is outright hooliganism and dictatorship. Sanjay ji is under house arrest. The voice of the people is being suppressed, opposition leaders are being imprisoned”.
Advertisement
