Amit Shah Has Been Kind, Liberal, Lenient With Kashmir Restrictions

Home minister Amit Shah has been “very kind, liberal and lenient” in placing preventive measures such as detentions and house arrests in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of State Jitendra Singh said on Friday. “In fact, they [those placed under preventive detention[ are even getting… what they are asking for… including brown bread for breakfast and gym. So this is purely preventive.”

Jitendra Singh was speaking at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2019 more than 45 days after the government imposed a communications clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir. The restrictions were placed after the government moved to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, accorded under Article 370, and to divide the state into two Union Territories.

As part of the restrictions, top leaders of the state — including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — have been placed under preventive detentions. Speaking at the Conclave, Jitendra Singh defended the government’s move saying, “Things have actually gone in the manner in which the Kashmiris want.”