Srinagar: A 15-member National Conference (NC) delegation from Jammu led by provincial president Devinder Singh Rana met party president Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on Sunday.
This was first time in last two months that the J&K government has allowed any party delegation to meet detained leaders.
The delegation drove first to Hari Nivas to meet Omar Abdullah, who has been placed under detention the night before the Government of India scrapped special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.
The delegation stayed there for more than half an hour.
Omar was seen taking selfies outside Hari Nivas mansion with the party colleagues during their meet.
Member Parliaments Mohammad Akbar Lone and retired justice Hasnain Masoudi came out first and spoke to media briefly.
“We were allowed to meet Omar Abdullah after three weeks to know about his health conditions,” Lone said, adding, they did not discuss politics, which they would only after their release.
Later the Rana-led delegation met Farooq Abdullah at his residence turned sub-jail in the afternoon, where he is under detention under a Public Safety Act (PSA).
Farooq, accompanied by his wife Mollie Abdullah welcomed the delegation.
After a 40-minute meet, Rana told media that there was anguish about developments particularly about continuous lockdown of the people.
“The mainstream political parties of Jammu wrote to the J&K Government, Satya Pal Malik and sought permission to meet the president of the party Dr Farooq and Omar and after permission granted a 15 member delegation of formers MLAs of NC of Jammu division came today morning to Srinagar to meet them,” Rana said, adding, they were happy that both leaders are well and in high spirits.
“Of course both are pained and anguished about the developments particularly the lockdown of the people. And we, as a party, appeal that the political process to start and democracy to revive in Jammu and Kashmir. Political detenues anywhere and everywhere, whether from mainstream political parties or otherwise who have no criminal record, may be released to initiate the process and the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are won”.
Asked about the Block Development Council (BDC) polls scheduled on October 24, and NC’s decision about participation, Rana said, “Political leaders are in detention and there is complete lockdown. And if the political process has to start then these members have to be released”.
Rana demanded that the government release the political detainees after which the NC working committee would meet, discuss and formulate a strategy for future.

Mir Iqbal