Opposition will hold a protest in Delhi, demanding the release of detained leaders in Kashmir

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. August 19, 2019, Monday

Various opposition parties, led by the DMK, have decided to hold a protest on Thursday, demanding immediate release of detained state leaders after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was canceled.

DMK MP TR Baloo said that parties including Congress, CPI (M), CPI, Trinamool Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) have agreed to participate in the demonstrations held at Jantar Mantar on August 22.

"We want all like-minded parties to join us in these appearances," Balu told reporters. Anyone who believes in union and democracy should join these appearances. We demand that the detained leaders have been released for the last 14 days. The detained leaders also include former chief ministers.

The DMK leader further said that he was trying to contact Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav. Several leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and Shah Faisal, a former IAS officer, have been detained in Jammu and Kashmir for the past two weeks. The leaders were detained along with the decision to remove Article 370 and remove the special status of the state.

Although the government is lifting the ban in a phased manner, there is no information available on when the detained leaders will be released. "We will take part in the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and we will demand immediate release of the detained leaders in Jammu and Kashmir," CPI general secretary D Raja said.