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politics

following day, he also visited Hari Niwas, Bukhari’s capers domicile rights. The reason for this is that
the palace where Omar Abdullah was Meanwhile, Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party there isn’t any trust left for the Centre’s
then detained. He also met the former has pressed ahead with his political ac- assurances in the Valley following the
J&K Chief Minister and Congress leader tivitiy. On March 15, Bukhari along with withdrawal of Article 370.
Ghulam Nabi Azad who flew down from 24 members of his party met the Prime “The Prime Minister had offered a
New Delhi to call on him. Minister Narendra Modi and demanded similar assurance about Article 370 to
However, on the third day of Abdul- statehood for J&K. However, Bukhari the delegation of National Conference
lah’s release, he issued a statement de- used the opportunity to also take up members headed by Dr Farooq Abdul-
manding release of all J&K detainees, and with the PM the issues that have been a lah three days before the constitutional
pending that sought shifting of Kashmiri source of great anxi- provision was scrapped,”
prisoners lodged outside J&K to the Val- ety in the Valley, like said an NC leader on the
ley so that their families don’t need to the apprehensions condition of anonymity.
travel to meet them, more so, in times about a demographic “So, it is difficult to take
of Coronavirus. Later, he also demanded change, withdrawal the Centre on its word”.
restoration of 4G internet in the Valley to of exclusive domicile However, more than
help combat spread of COVID-19, the dis- and job rights to peo- whether centre agrees
ease caused by coronavirus. ple of J&K. to Bukhari’s demands
Senior Abdullah also said that he had Ac c ording t o or not, the challenge for
consciously avoided making any political Bukhari, the PM as- him is to create a rel-
statement as he didn’t think situation in sured them that the evance for his politics in
Kashmir was conducive for it.
“While I believe a free & frank
exchange of political views is essential
so that we can take stock of the momen- The release of Abdullahs has become a
tous changes that J&K has seen after fifth subject of much debate and speculation. How
August 2019 we are still some way away
from an environment where such politi- did they come to be freed when a few weeks
cal discourse will be possible,” Abdullah
wrote. ago, the government had extended the PSA of
‘This is especially so considering the Omar Abdullah and the PDP chief Mehbooba
number of people detained in August last
year who remain in jails outside J&K”. Mufti, the two ex-CMs, and other leaders
The son Omar has adopted a similar
stance. In his statement he has prom-
ised to talk in detail about Article 370
once COVID-19 has been brought under Centre will not tinker with Kashmir’s de- Kashmir.
control. mography, nor take away domicile and More so, in the aftermath of the re-
But should Abdullahs choose to stay job rights. lease of Abdullah, which is likely to
quiet about the stripping of J&K auton- “The prime minister assured us that change the dynamics of post-Article 370
omy pending release of other leaders, the issues pertaining to domicile, land, politics in the Valley.
this situation will be to the benefit of and jobs will be addressed soon. In the altered context, Abdullahs will
New Delhi. He said nobody will take away have more credibility with the people.
The Centre doesn’t want any Kash- the lands and jobs of the people of That is, unless they are also seen to have
miri leader to challenge the withdrawal Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari later said compromised with the new state of
of J&K autonomy, nor ask people to pro- adding a law to the effect will be brought affairs.
test against it. And this is what Abdullahs soon. “The prime minister told me that If we go by the stance adopted by fa-
have done so far. they do not want to disempower the ther-son duo, the leaders look content
Considering the top NC leaders have majority”. to bide their time until other leaders are
made a return to political activity con- Bukhari, however, steered clear of Ar- released, something that,in part, depends
ditional on the release of other politi- ticle 370 saying it was for the Supreme on their “good behavior”.
cians, the centre can very well delay Court to decide. “Political parties have The real political action is likely to
their release or do it in a staggered man- gone to court. It has been challenged,” he start in the Valley once Mehbooba and
ner. However, the clear picture will only said. Sajjad Lone are also released.
emerge in the days to come. Until then, In Kashmir, there will be few takers
we can only keep our fingers crossed. for Bukhari’s assurance on the count of letters@tehelka.com

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