“Kashmir solution has begun,” tweeted Bollywood actor Anupam Kher. The actor tweeted right after the state's top political leaders, including Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and Sajad Lone tweeted about being put under house arrest.
The actor, a Kashmiri Pandit, has been a supporter of PM Modi. He has often openly voiced support for the various BJP's government policies. His wife Kirron Kher is a Member of Parliament from the party.
Uncertainty in the Kashmir Valley followed a massive security build-up and a government advisory asking tourists and pilgrims to leave Kashmir immediately, citing security threats from terrorists. Close to 35,000 paramilitary forces were flown in last week and were deployed across Srinagar and sensitive areas of the Kashmir Valley.
"The whole country is in favour of the Modi government. It is not a small majority, it is a huge mandate. The opposition should now quietly let this government work," Kher had earlier said. He said he believes that the issues in Kashmir will be resolved if Article 370, which gives special autonomous status to the state, is abolished.
Whether or not the Centre will do away with article 35A and 370 has been among the top concerns of citizens in the state Amid the current situation of uncertainty. Article 370 and Article 35A give special rights and privileges to the state's citizens in government jobs and land.
MP Shashi Tharoor too reacted to the situation. He tweeted, "You are not alone @OmarAbdullah. Every Indian democrat will stand with the decent mainstream leaders in Kashmir as you face up to whatever the government has in store for our country. Parliament is still in session & our voices will not be stilled."
Tharoor also slammed the government in an earlier tweet.
What is going on in J&K? Why would leaders be arrested overnight while having done no wrong? If Kashmiris are our citizens &their leaders our partners, surely the mainstream ones must be kept on board while we act against terrorists & separatists? If we alienate them, who’s left?
Will Modi Bring Big Change to Kashmir. Here Farooq Abdullah tells me they are ready to make changes to make 35A gender-friendly; also ready to discuss voting rights for West Pakistan refugees- but all changes must come via assembly, not Centre,” tweeted prominent journalist Barkha Dutt.
Mobile networks and internet services in the meantime have been suspended in Kashmir. Television networks and landlines have been suspended too, as India awaits cabinet announcement on Kashmir.
