Will take back what Delhi snatched,’ says Mehbooba Mufti

wilayattimes (Jammu and Kashmir)

Srinagar | WTNS | October 14:The J&K administration on October 13 revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) and detention of former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, who has been under arrest for over 14 months since the Centre abrogated J&K’s special status on August 5, 2019.

“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(1) of the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), the government revokes the detention order dated February 5 and extended for a period of three months on July 31, 2020 against Ms. Mufti,” an order issued by Shaleen Kabra, principal secretary, Home, said.

According to Wilayat Times, Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti  was released late Tuesday night after being detained by the government for 435 Days under the Public Safety Act (PSA) .

Ms. Mufti was lodged in two separate sub-jails in Srinagar before she was shifted to her official residence, which was converted into a sub-jail.

Immediately after her release, a PDP spokesman said Ms. Mufti would address a press conference in Srinagar on October 16. Ms. Mufti has not issued any statement since her arrest in 2019. The former Chief Minister was the last of the senior leaders under detention in Kashmir.

“I have been released today after over an year,” Mufti said in an audio message after her release. “All through this time, the black day of August 5 kept wounding my soul. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have also suffered like this. None of us can forget the insult of that day.”

In an audio message tweeted late Tuesday night from her official Twitter handle, Mehbooba Mufti is heard saying: “Today, I have been released after more than a year. All this while, the black day – August 5, 2019 – continued to assault my soul. I believe, all people in Jammu and Kashmir would be feeling the same way. None of us can forget the insult we were made to face that day.”

“Now, we all have to remember… what Delhi Durbar took from us with an illegal, undemocratic decision on August 5, we have to take it back. Thousands have lost lives because of (the) Kashmir issue… we have to continue the struggle for now. I agree, this won’t be easy on any of us. However, I am confident that our courage will help us sail through. I appeal that all the people who have been locked up in prisons should be released at the earliest,” she added.

Sources said Ms. Mufti has been in touch with Dr. Abdullah in the last three months to carry forward the agenda of the Gupkar Declaration Her release may finally formalize the regional grouping under the Gupkar Declaration. Sources said all the parties, which are part the Gupkar Declaration, were planning to give it a formal shape once Ms. Mufti is released.