New Delhi:Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday took a dig at the Central government on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), saying that what is happening in Kashmir is the new normal.
Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram said that the internet was shut down in the state once again but the government has claimed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is normal.
Questioning the alleged house arrest of Mehbooba Mufti's daughter, Chidambaram said that the government has not answered her why she was detained.
He said, "Everything is normal in J&K. Schools open, no students. Everything is normal in J&K. Internet shut down once again. Everything is normal in J&K. Mehbooba Mufti's daughter under house arrest. She asks why? No answer."
In another tweet, Chidambaram said, "if you are wondering what is going on, please understand, this is the new normal."
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under an unprecedented security cover and curfew-like restrictions on August 4, a day before the Centre revoked the state's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti had earlier claimed, in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, that she was detained in her house because of her interviews to media, and was "threatened with dire consequences".
Iltija Mufti also said that visitors were not allowed to meet her and called it "odd" since she was not affiliated to any political party.
"I'd be most obliged if you could kindly throw light on the laws under which I've been detained and for how long," Iltija Mufti told Amit Shah.
"Do I need to seek legal recourse?" Iltija Mufti concluded saying it was "suffocating and humiliating" to be treated in this manner "for stating the inconvenient truth".
The schools in Kashmir opened on Monday as restrictions were eased but while the teachers reported to work in many schools in the Valley but not many students were seen.
Officials said the government has made necessary arrangements for the opening of 190 primary schools in Srinagar city as security forces remained deployed in most of the Valley.
But all private schools in the city remained shut for the 15th consecutive day as parents were apprehensive about the security situation in view of violent protests over the past two days. Only Police Public School at Bemina and a few Kendriya Vidyalayas saw a handful of students turning up.