Abdullah’s detention shock many, can prove dangerous

The detention of former Chief Minister and National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah under Public Saftey Act ( PSA) has stunned both his party men and people in Jammu and Kashmir.

81-year-old Abdullah was slapped with PSA on Monday. The act enables the government to detain anyone up to a period of two years without trial.

Although all top National Conference leaders including the party president Omar Abdullah are under detention since ruling dispensation did away with special status of the state on August 5, some middle rung party leaders, who are still free, told National Herald that they were left dumbfounded at the news of Abdullah's detention under the act

"See Farooq Sahab was already under house arrest but this government would stoop to such a level we had never thought it", said a National Conference leader who declined to be identified.

He said that BJP wants to create "one-party one nation".

Another  National Conference leader said that BJP has made a monumental mistake by booking the senior Abdullah.

"When the government of India was desperate to initiate a political process in J&K during troubled nineties, it was Dr Sahab who belled the cat and formed the government",  he said, adding that he (Abdullah) has become the victim of centre's use-and-throw politics.

The leader requested this reporter repeatedly for protecting his identity.

The detention of senior Abdullah has equally unsettled the people in the Valley.

"I have ideological differences with the National Conference but the question is that when you did not spare the leader of such a tall stature what will be the fate of a common Kashmiri here?" Asked Zakir Ahamd Bhat, a university student.

It’s important to recall here that Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah’s son during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had promised to scrap the draconian act if his party was voted to power.

"I have ideological differences with the National Conference but the question is that when you did not spare the leader of such a tall stature what will be the fate of a common Kashmiri here?" Asked Zakir Ahamd Bhat, a university student. junior Abdullah during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had promised to scrap the draconian act if his party was voted to power.

A Dangerous move

Many political analysts see the detention of senior Abdullah under PSA  as a rather dangerous move. They believe that Indian mainstream politics is fast losing its space to separatism.

A political analyst said on the condition of annonymity that such moves are only vindicating the stand held by separatist leadership in Kashmir.

" Time and again Hurriyat leaders had warned Kashmiri mainstream politicians about the dangers of preaching pro-Indian politics. And now see in which situation this government has pitchforked them", he said.