Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Wednesday, November 20, told the Rajya Sabha that there was no curfew in Kashmir and that normalcy has been restored in the state.
Replying to questions over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah defended internet ban in the Valley and said that internet services would resume in the newly reorganised union territory (UT) on the recommendation of the local administration. "As far as the resumption of internet services is concerned, a decision will be taken at an appropriate time in consultation with the local administration," the Home Minister said.
As far as internet services are concerned, the decision can be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir authorities. There are activities by Pakistan too in Kashmir region, so keeping security in mind, whenever the local authority deems it fit, a decision will be taken, Amit Shah said.
He agreed that internet services are key to education, health and information, but priority has to be given to national security. "Internet services are very important and is a necessity now, but when it comes to national security, we have to prioritise necessities accordingly," Shah said.
J&K internet to resume
Replying to a question from Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Minister said that internet services were not allowed in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir in the past too due to security reasons, but assured that the services would be resumed as soon as the situation improved.
Besides internet services, Azad raised the issue of education in the state which has been affected after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5 this year.
On the issue of imposition of section 144 in Jammu and Kashmir, Amit Shah said that the section was applied in areas under a few police stations only for limited hours -- from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
"In not even one of the total 195 police stations, Section 144 is imposed. It has been lifted completely. As precautionary measures, it is imposed only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and that too in areas of very few police stations," he said.
(With agency inputs)
