‘Don’t have words… I am free’: Farooq Abdullah after his release

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday (March 13) said he will be able to take a decision on future only after other detained leaders are released.

His statement came after he was released from seven-month detention after the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday revoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against him with immediate effect.

“Today, I don’t have words. I am free today; Now, I will be able to go to Delhi and attend the Parliament and speak for you all,” said the 82-year-old patron of the National Conference who emerged in an all-black attire after he was released on Friday.

Abdullah also thanked the parliamentarians who stood by him and in his words, “fought for my freedom”.

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“Hope others political leaders would be released soon. Thank all parliamentarians who fought for my freedom. Will be able to take decision on future only after other leaders are released,” he said.

The Lok Sabha MP was detained on August 5 last year when the central government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two union territories. Two other former chief ministers, his son Omar and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, were also detained along with other leaders on August 5.

Abdullah was the first former chief minister against whom the stringent Public Safety Act was invoked. The stringent Act was slapped against him on September 15, hours before the Supreme Court was to hear a petition by MDMK leader Vaiko who claimed Abdullah was illegally detained.

(With inputs from agencies)

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