Navlakha Detention: Mehbooba Slams Omar, Farooq

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today slammed Omar Abdullah led-Jammu and Kashmir government over the detention of rights' activist Gautam Navlakha.

"By denying liberty to prominent human rights activist and columnist Gautam Naulakha to enter the state, the government had sent a shrill message across," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told party workers at Mirgund in Pattan area of Baramulla district.

She claimed the step indicates a sense of insecurity that the present government suffers from.

Gautam Navlakha, a frequent traveller to the Valley for the last two decades, has written extensively about alleged human rights violations in the state and is consulting editor of a leading magazine. He was detained at Srinagar Airport on May 28 under section 144 CrPC.

Referring to remarks of Union minister Farooq Abdullah threatening action against celebrated author Arundhati Roy if she came to Kashmir, Mehbooba said the streak of intolerance runs through the entire NC leadership.

"I had vainly hoped him to advise tolerance to his son but Farooq sahib has gone a step ahead by damning the writer and books that expose his party's misdeeds in Kashmir," she said.