Demanding the immediate release of all Kashmiri prisoners, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that it was a very different world today to that existed before August 5 last year.
“232 days after my detention, today I finally left HariNiwas. It’s a very different world today to the one that existed on 5th August2019,” he tweeted soon after his release.
Omar was released on Tuesday after nearly eight months indetention. On?5 August, 2019, he along with hundreds of politicians andactivists was detained after the Central Government abrogated the specialconstitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir and imposed severe restrictions inthe region.
He was initially detained under Section 107 of the Code ofCriminal Procedure. Just before his
detention was to expire inFebruary 2020, the government invoked Public Safety Act to hold him.
Omar who had a spree of tweetssoon after his release, emerged from the Hari Niwas guest house, where he waskept in detention, with white beard and surrounded by people in masks in viewCOVID-19 outbreak.
“We face the fight of our livesover the next few weeks & months as we come to terms & work to defeat#COVID-19. I will do everything in my individual capacity to help theauthorities overcome this challenge & I appeal to all of you to do thesame,” he said in another tweet.
“On a lighter note, if anyonewants tips on surviving quarantine or a lock down I have months of experienceat my disposal, perhaps a blog is in order,” he tweeted.
Earlier, talking to reporters hesaid that he realises it is a war of life and death. “Today I realise that weare fighting a war of life and death. All our people who have been detainedshould be released at this time. We must follow government orders to fightcoronavirus,” he said adding that people must look after the well being offamily members, relatives, friends and neighbours.
“Be Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba, myparty workers or common persons, they must be released.”
Omar also appealed the governmentto restore communication and connectivity in JK. “There is urgent need torestore 3G & 4G so that people keep themselves updated in this crisis.”
The former CM said he would speakabout political matters later, as the first challenge was to fight the Covid-19pandemic. “During my period of detention, I thought a lot about what I wouldsay the moment I come out, what I would say about what happened on August 5last year,” he said, adding, “Let’s not be complacent towards the challengesbeing faced the world over.”
“Our children were not able to goto school (after August 5), shopkeepers were not able to open the shops, Statewas bifurcated and there was much more.”
He shared a picture after havinglunch with his father and mother.
“Had lunch with my mum & dadfor the first time in almost 8 months. I can’t remember a better meal eventhough I’ve been in a bit of a daze & don’t remember what I ate,” he tweeted.
Omar also thanked his NationalConference colleagues. “My thanks to all my @JKNC_ colleagues for stayingunited & staying strong. We have a long & difficult road ahead of usbut together we will ensure J&K sees better days.”
“I owe a huge debt ofgratitude to @KapilSibal, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, @reyazshariq and their legalteams for taking the fight against my unjust PSA detention to the SC. Thank youto my baby sister Sara for filing the petition to have me freed.”