Srinagar: High drama unfolded at the Circuit House here on Thursday as former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah was prevented from meeting AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was detained on the premises to prevent him from protesting against the detention of party MLA under PSA.
The police action, separating the two leaders by a locked gate, was condemned by Abdullah as a “direct assault” on constitutional values.
Singh was scheduled to hold a protest against the recent arrest and detention of his party colleague and Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Abdullah, who is National Conference chief, had reached there to offer solidarity, only to be stopped at the gates.
“This is the situation here,” said a frustrated Abdullah. “Elected government in place, but it looks like the strings are being operated by the Lieutenant Governor (Manoj Sinha)!”
He criticised the restrictions, saying that protesting is a constitutional right and that the LG was “abusing” his powers.
On the opposite side of the gates, AAP’s Singh became an impromptu acrobat. The Rajya Sabha member used a chair to get a better vantage point, arguing with the police.
“He’s a former Chief Minister! I’m a Member of Parliament! What’s the problem? What’s the crime? Are you saying two MPs can’t even exchange pleasantries?” he asked.
There was a sight of Singh perched precariously on a plastic chair, passionately arguing with the police, while Abdullah stood outside the gates, equally passionate.
“He’s not here to throw stones or fire guns,” Abdullah said. “He just wants to speak within the bounds of the Constitution.”
The police, however, remained unmoved, leaving the two leaders to talk to each other across a locked gate. (PTI)
