Modi appeals to 14 US lawmakers to restore contact in Kashmir

Washington, Sep 28, 2019, Saturday

Fourteen US lawmakers, including Indian American MP Pramila Jaipal, raised concerns over human rights situation in Kashmir before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to lift the ban on communications.

Thousands of families in the country cannot contact their families in Jammu and Kashmir, US lawmakers said in a joint statement to PM Modi. In such cases, on behalf of these families, we request Prime Minister Modi to lift the blackout on communications from Jammu and Kashmir.

He also expressed concern over human rights. The Central Government has imposed several restrictions, including restrictions on communication, after lifting Article 370 of special status from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5th and dividing the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Stressing that the removal of Article 370 of the Constitution from Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter, India defended the restrictions imposed in the Kashmir Valley and said that Pakistan had imposed restrictions on Kashmir to assist terrorists and spread unrest in the state.

India is an important partner of the United States and is the world's largest democracy. We hope that the Government of India will show these leadership skills by lifting these restrictions. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir have the same rights as other citizens of India," the joint statement of American MPs said.