Mehbooba Mufti released: Will continue struggle for restoration of Article 370, says PDP chief

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was released from detention after 14 months, has vowed to continue her struggle for the restoration of Article 370 and the resolution of the Kashmir issue. She said the Centre’s decision of 5 August, 2019 was a “daylight robbery”. “We all have to pledge that we will take back what was snatched illegally, undemocratically and unconstitutionally on 5 August last year. We will also have to work for the resolution of Kashmir issue for which thousands of people have laid down their lives,” Mehbooba said in an 83-second audio message on Twitter late on Tuesday night. The PDP leader said it will not be an easy task as there will be difficulties in “this path but our steadfastness and determination will be our aides in this struggle”. The Centre had ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into union territories on 5 August last year. Mehbooba also demanded the release of Kashmiri people languishing in various jails. “As I have been released, all other persons (from Kashmir) who are detained in various jails across the country should also be released,” she said. Mehbooba was released on Tuesday night after the Union Territory administration revoked the Public Safety Act charges against her, more than a year after she was detained following the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The development came barely two days before the Supreme Court was to hear the matter related to her detention. Mehbooba, 60, who was initially put under preventive custody on 5 August last year and later booked under the stringent PSA on 6 February, was shifted to her official residence on 7 April after it was declared a subsidiary jail by the authorities