'Will Take Back What was Snatched on August 5': Mehbooba Mufti After Release From Detention

Upon her release, the former J&K CM said the  Modi government’s decision to revoke Kashmir's special status on August 5 last year was a "daylight robbery.”  

As former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti walked free on Tuesday night after her 14-month detention, she pledged to continue her struggle for the restoration of Article 370 and the “resolution of the Kashmir issue.”

Calling the  Modi government’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status on August 5 last year a "daylight robbery,” she said, "We all have to pledge that we will take back what was snatched illegally, undemocratically and unconstitutionally on August 5 last year. We will also have to work for the resolution of Kashmir issue for which thousands of people have laid down their lives.” She shared her statement in a short audio message on Twitter on Tuesday night.

After being released from fourteen long months of illegal detention, a small message for my people. pic.twitter.com/gIfrf82Thw

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 13, 2020

The Centre had ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into union territories on August 5 last year.

Mehbooba also demanded the release of Kashmiri people from jails across the country.

On Tuesday, the J&K administration revoked the Public Safety Act charges against Mufti and released her more than a year after she was detained following the abrogation of Article 370. She was first put under preventive custody on August 5 and later booked under the stringent PSA on February 6. Her detention period had also been extended for a period of three months on July 31 this year.

Interestingly, the administration released her just two days before the Supreme Court was to hear the matter related to her detention. Her daughter Iltija Mufti had moved the apex court on this regard.

Expressing her happiness over her mother’s release, Iltija told PTI, “I now hope that other youths who have been detained for over a year in various jails in and outside the state are also released soon.” She also claimed that her mother’s detention was "illegal, unlawful and a complete traversity of justice".

She signed off from her mother's Twitter handle with a tweet: "As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, I'd like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off...."

As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, Id like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off. فی امان اﷲ May allah protect you

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 13, 2020

Welcoming Mehbooba, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Her continued detention was a travesty and was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba.”

I’m pleased to hear that @MehboobaMufti Sahiba has been released after more than a year in detention. Her continued detention was a travesty & was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 13, 2020

(With inputs from PTI)