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Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, August 16
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti has written to Home Minister Amit Shah about being “detained” at home since her mother was taken into preventive custody.
In a letter addressed to Shah, Iltija Mufti says that she has been forced to remain at home without being given reasons for the action.
She says in the letter: “Hope and pray that I'm not punished/penalised or arrested for raising questions about my fundamental rights. Kashmir is engulfed in clouds of darkness and I fear for the safety at its people including those who spoke up”.
In the letter, she speaks about her mother’s detention since August 5—when the state went into lockdown hours before the central government announced it was doing away with the controversial Article 370, a provision of the Indian Constitution that gives special rights to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Unfortunately, for reasons best known to you, I have also been detained at my residence. We are not even told when visitors are turned away from the gate & am not allowed to step out either. Odd since I am not affiliated to any political party & have always been a law abiding citizen,” she says.
She also mentions her interviews to the press about events unfolding in Kashmir saying that she has been threatened with “dire consequences” for them.
“However, the security personnel have cited my interviews to various media portals & newspapers as the reason for my detention. In fact, I’ve been threatened with dire consequences if I speak up again,” she says.
“I have to grovel for permission to allow my aged grandmother to visit her son. Is she also a potential threat? For the world's largest demoracy, doesn't a citizen have a right to speak up in the face of unimaginable repression,” the letter says.
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is among several prominent leaders of the state who have been put under preventive detention since the state has gone on a complete security lockdown.
The state administration said on Friday that it was going to roll back on its restrictions in a “phased manner”, and would also review the preventive detentions.
“Preventive detentions are being continuously reviewed and appropriate decisions will be made based on law and order assessments,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said.
Here’s the full text of the letter
‘Dear sir, I am left with no other option but to write to you since I’ve made several unsuccessful attempts to get a degree of clarity on my detention. Hope and pray that I'm not punished/penalised for arrested for raising questions about my fundamental rights. Kashmir is engulfed in clouds of darkness and I fear for the safety at its people including those who spoke up. We Kashmiris are reeling in despair since the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August, 2019. My mother Ms Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister J&K was detained along with scores of other elected representatives the very same day. Its now been over ten long agonising days since this crippling curfew was imposed. The valley is gripped with fear because all forms of communication have been snapped thereby debilitating an entire population. Today while the rest of the country celebrates India's Independence Day, Kashmiris have been caged like animals & deprived of basic human rights.
Unfortunately, for reasons best known to you, I have also been detained at my residence. We are not even told when visitors are turned away from the gate & am not allowed to step out either. Odd since I am not affiliated to any political party & have always been a law abiding citizen. However, the security personnel have cited my interviews to various media portals & newspapers as the reason for my detention. In fact, I’ve been threatened with dire consequences if I speak up again. Pertinent to mention that the recurrent theme of these interviews was unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370 followed by an unprecedented curfew. I also expressed concern for my mothers safety who along with hundreds of political detainees have been jailed since 5th August, 2019.
With due respect, I fail to understand why I am being punished for speaking on behalf of Kashmiris whose voices have been smothered. Is it a crime to articulate the pain, torment & indignity we‘ve been subjected to? Does it warrant a detention to describe our plight? I will be most obliged if you could kindly throw light on the laws under which I‘ve been detained and for how long? Do I need to seek legal recourse? It's suffocating & humiliating to be treated in this manner. I have to grovel for permission to allow my aged grandmother to visit her son. Is she also a potential threat? For the world's largest demoracy, doesn't a citizen have a right to speak up in the face of unimaginable repression? Satyamev Jayate i.e. truth only triumphs has defined the spirit of our country & it’s constitution. It’s a tragic irony that I am being treated like a war criminal for stating the inconvenient truth. Apologies for not posting this letter but as you're aware, postal services too have been suspended in I&K. May truth prevaiI.'