Jammu
The geographical proximity of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan has been cited one of the reasons for detention of former Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir Omar Abdullah, India told its Supreme Court.
The affidavit filed in the top court by the Indian government says, “It is submitted that considering very peculiar geopolitical position of J&K and Ladakh and its proximity to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the concept of public order needs to be examined contextually.”
Indian government in its response said former chief minister Omar Abdullah has been a vocal critic of Article 370 even before its abrogation on August 5.
India also emphasized that Abdullah “squarely fell within the realm of public order, as it was calculated to disturb public peace and tranquility. It is needless to emphasise that the incitement of public at large, pertains to public order.”
After a brief hearing on the matter, the Supreme Court said: “Matter pertaining to liberty can be entertained”, and agreed to hear a plea by Sara Abdullah Pilot, challenging detention of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and her brother Omar Abdullah. Pilot had filed a habeas corpus in the top court.
Moreover, senior Congress leader P Chidambram has hit out at Indian Home Minister Amit Shah for his comments that no one from the minority community will be affected by the controversial Citizenship Act and asked why then was the Muslim community excluded from the law in the first place.
Addressing a rally in Kolkata, Shah had said that not a single person would lose citizenship due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). “The Home Minister says that no minority will be affected by CAA.—KMS
