Am convinced most Kashmiris support move on Article 370: Doval

New Delhi, September 7

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Saturday said he is "totally convinced” that a majority of Kashmiris supported the abrogation of Article 370, and assured them that restrictions in Kashmir were aimed at preventing Pakistan from creating more mischief through their proxies and militants.

In a wide-ranging interaction with a select group of journalists, Doval said restrictions had anyway been eased progressively, and only 10 of the 199 police districts in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh now still had prohibitory orders, while landline telephones had been restored 100 per cent in all three areas.

On the political detentions, he said they were preventive in nature and very much allowed under the law, which meant the government is answerable to courts and would have to pay a heavy penalty if it had done anything extra-judicial.

“I am fully convinced that a majority of Kashmirs totally support the abrogation of Article 370,” Doval said. In the removal of Article 370, announced on August 5, “they (Kashmiris) see greater opportunities, a better future, more jobs for youths,” he said.

“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,” he told the journalists, comprising Indian and foreign media. PTI