Srinagar: Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed the authorities have put him and his family under house arrest with “no explanation”.
The National Conference vice-president also said “it’s bad enough” that his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah has also been put under house arrest.
“This is the 'Naya (new) J&K' after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they've locked my sister & her kids in their home as well,” he said in a post on Twitter and also shared photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is the “naya/new J&K” after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It’s bad enough they’ve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they’ve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well. <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/greta-thunberg-toolkit-case-bengaluru-activist-arrested-disha-ravi-1444113">pic.twitter.com/89vOgjD5WM</a></p>— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a >February 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The National Conference leader also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside by the authorities.
“Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren't being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry & bitter,” Omar said in another tweet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren’t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I’m still angry & bitter.</p>— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a >February 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The police, however, contradicted Omar’s claim and stated the movement of VIPs/protected persons has been “discouraged” due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.
“Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today,” the Srinagar Police said on its official Twitter handle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a >https://t.co/3Vtj1sPcvi</a> Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged<br>and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today. <a >@OmarAbdullah</a></p>— SRINAGAR POLICE (@PoliceSgr) <a >February 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The National Conference vice-president reacted to police claims and asked under which law he had been detained in his house.
“I’m not even sure if this is actually a police Twitter handle since it’s not verified but assuming it is - please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today? You can advise me not to leave my house but you can’t force me to stay in using security as an excuse,” Omar said in another tweet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m not even sure if this is actually a police Twitter handle since it’s not verified but assuming it is - please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today? You can advise me not to leave my house but you can’t force me to stay in using security as an excuse. <a >https://t.co/wfWwYPiTM4</a></p>— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a >February 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Omar’s outburst comes a day after the former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq killed in an encounter.
“Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir,” she posted on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir. <a >pic.twitter.com/xFkcqTGQyV</a></p>— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) <a >February 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>