New Delhi: The National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, said that he is fully convinced that a majority of Kashmiris support the scrapping of Article 370. He also said that the restrictions in the state was put in place to prevent further mischief from proxies and terrorists of Pakistan.
He was speaking to a select few journalist about the situation in Kashmir when he made these statements.
Ajit Doval said, “In the removal of Article 370, announced on August 5, “they (Kashmiris) see greater opportunities, a better future, more jobs for youths. There is a vocal minority that opposes it. It appears to people that that is the voice of the people. That is not necessarily true.”
Speaking on Article 370, the NSA said that it was not special status but special discrimination and said that with the scrapping of the article the Kashmiris have come at par with Indians.
While talking about the detention of the leaders in the valley, he said that none of these leaders are charged with criminal offence or sedition and is done according to the framework of law.
He said, “Everything is done according to the framework of law, they can challenge their detention in Court. They are in preventive custody till environment is created for democracy to function, which I believe may happen soon.”
Doval also blamed Pakistan for trying to create unrest in the valley and said that the Islamic country has sent many terrorists to disrupt the normalcy of the state.
The NSA added, “230 Pakistani terrorists were spotted, some of them have infiltrated, some arrested. We are determined to protect the life of Kashmiris from Pakistani terrorists even if we have to impose restrictions. Terror is the only instrument Pakistan uses to create unrest.