Stalin opposes house arrest of Omar Abdullah, says BJP govt. is stripping away rights of elected governments

Opposing the ‘house arrest’ of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday contended that the Union BJP government was systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments.

“At a time when there is a growing demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood, the current events unfolding there are a grim reminder of how far things have deteriorated,” Mr. Stalin contended in a social media post.

The elected CM was being placed under house arrest simply for wanting to pay homage to the 1,931 martyrs and was forced to climb walls to do so, Mr. Stalin said and further asked: “Is this how an elected Chief Minister should be treated?”

Further, stating that it was not just about one State or one leader, Mr. Stalin said: “From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Union BJP Government is systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments.”

If this could happen in Kashmir, Mr. Stalin said: “it can happen anywhere, to any elected representative of the people. Every democratic voice must unequivocally condemn this.”