Owaisi questions Centre’s normalcy claim over Farooq Abdullah’s detention

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday criticised the Centre for insisting that conditions in Jammu and Kashmir were normal, as it defended restrictions in the state before the Supreme Court. He pointed to the detention of former chief minister Farooq Abdullah as evidence to the contrary.

Owaisi’s objections

Abdullah had been held at home since the Centre removed the state’s special status, and charges had been brought against him under the Public Safety Act. Owaisi asked: “When a former chief minister is under arrest, what normalcy are you talking about?”

He said he condemned the use of the PSA against the National Conference leader, noting that Abdullah had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi the day before Article 370 was abrogated. He questioned how a man of 80 could be a danger to the country, calling the situation sad.

The Hyderabad MP also urged the Supreme Court to set up a commission to visit the Valley and see the juvenile centres there for itself. He accused the Modi government of acting hastily and without a plan, saying it had “created a mess” in the state.

Ghulam Nabi Azad’s visit

On the same day, the Supreme Court allowed senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, his home state, but barred him from holding political rallies. Azad had asked the court for permission so he could check on his family.

Owaisi said the need for a former chief minister to seek the court’s leave to visit the state itself showed things were not normal. He also asked why Azad should be kept out of politics and what purpose the trip would serve if he could not meet political leaders.

Background

Parliament ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 in August 2019 and reorganised the state into two union territories.

See also: AIMIM and political leaders.

Originally published on 16 September 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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