Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Welcoming the release of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Mohammad Ashraf Mir today called for release of all political detainees including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, especially in light of the COVID-19 outbreak in J&K.
In a statement issued here, Mir observed that detention of hundreds of political detainees who were put under preventive detention on mere suspicion after August 5, 2019 should be shifted back to Jammu and Kashmir from various States of the country.
“The situation that has emerged after outbreak of COVID-19 warrants that these political detainees be shifted to J&K and released immediately so that their families are not subjected to any further sufferings on this account,” he demanded, adding that the Government of India should review all such cases on compassionate grounds.
The JKAP leader further demanded that former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other detained political leaders irrespective of their political affiliations should be released forthwith to facilitate a conducive atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mir also appealed the people especially his party cadres to work together in these pressing times to fight spread of Coronavirus that has engulfed the whole world. “This deadly disease can only be stopped by our collective approach. While following the guidelines of the Government especially social distancing measures, we should come forward to create a community fund to help the underprivileged sections of our society whose livelihood has got badly affected by the mandatory restrictions imposed by the Government,” he remarked.
The JKAP leader appealed the Government of India to restore 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir to help people communicate effectively with their near and dear ones who are far away from their families.
He also appealed the J&K Government to distribute free ration and other essential commodities including medicine to the below poverty line families so that they are not compelled to violate the Government orders unnecessarily. “There is a vast chunk of our population whose livelihood has been marred by the COVID-19 restrictions. The Government must reach out to such families in order to ensure their strict home confinement, a prerequisite to stem the spread of this deadly disease,” he remarked.
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