Clearing out speculations, Amit Shah says ‘Farooq Abdullah has neither been detained nor arrested’

New Delhi, August 6: As the debate to revoke Article 370 heats up in Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah patiently responds to the queries targeting on whether Farooq Abdullah was detained or arrested. Informing the house, Shah asserted that Jammu and Kashmir lawmaker Farooq Abdullah was at his home in Leh Valley and has not been detained or arrested.

The reply from the home minister came after members demanded to know why Farooq Abdullah was not present in the House during the debate on Article 370 and whether he had been detained. Amit Shah said, “Farooq Abdullah has neither been detained nor arrested. He’s at his home, out of his own free will.”

Earlier, NCP’s Supriya Sule and DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran sought to know where the National Conference leader was on the day crucial legislation related to his state were being discussed. “I sit on seat 462, Farooq Abdullah sits on seat 461. He’s elected from J&K, we can’t hear him today. This debate will be incomplete if you ask me,” Sule said.

“Mr Farooq Abdullah, a member of this House is missing. He is arrested. We have no intimation. You as a Speaker should protect the members. You should be neutral,” DMK member Dayanidhi Maran said in the Lower House.

Reading out from the Rule Book, Maran said that it is mandatory that the Speaker is informed in case a sitting member is arrested but there no information on Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah.

Owing to protect the internal security of the state, tight security has been noticed in the valley with internet connection being snapped and tourists have been asked to leave immediately for safety and security.

The House is debating a motion to abrogate provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and a bill to split the state into two union territories.