‘Detainees living like house guests’
JAMMU: UNION minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday that Kashmiri politicians detained after the effective abrogation of Article 370 will not be kept in confinement for more than 18 months.
He said the leaders were not arrested but they were living as “house guests” and were even provided with CDS of Hollywood movies and bread of their choices. “Political leaders have been kept in VIP bungalows. We have even given them CDS of Hollywood movies. Gym facility has also been provided to them. They are not under house arrest. They are house guests,” he said.
An unspecified number of political leaders, separatists, activists and lawyers were detained by the Jammu and Kashmir administration as the central government on August 5 announced the withdrawal of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Those detained since then include three former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
Singh also urged the Mulsim community not to be misguided by the propaganda by “vested interests” that they would lose their majority position in J&K after revocation of special status.
Singh warned “vested interests” against linking the fallout of nullification of Article 370 to religion, saying the government will punish those speaking against the country’s interest. He made the remarks while addressing a BJP rally organised on the eve of the last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary.
The Maharaja’s grandson and BJP leader, Ajatshatru Singh, however, was conspicuous by his absence at the function which was attended by, among others, Union minister of state Anurag Thakur, BJP national vice president Shyam Jaju and state BJP president Ravinder Raina.