Jammu And Kashmir Situation Fully Normal: Amit Shah Gives Status Report In Rajya Sabha

Shah said, "In Jammu and Kashmir the situation has become fully normal. There are various kinds of rumours in India and all over the world but I want to tell that not a single person has died in police firing after August 5."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the situation is "fully normal" in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

New Delhi: Responding to a series of questions on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the situation is "fully normal" in the valley. Giving the status report, Shah said there was no curfew in Kashmir and the normalcy has been restored in the state. He also said not a single person had died in police firing after August 5, when Article 370 was abrogated and the two Union territories (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) were carved out of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said all newspapers and TV channels are functioning in Kashmir and there is no decline in the circulation of newspapers. Replying to Congress MP Majeed Memon in the upper house on the question about J&K status, Shah said, "In Jammu and Kashmir the situation has become fully normal. There are various kinds of rumours in India and all over the world but I want to tell that not a single person has died in police firing after August 5." "The incidents of stone-pelting have witnessed a dip as compared to that of last year," he said. "All Urdu and English newspapers and TV channels are functioning banking services are fully functional as well. All Government offices and all Courts are open. Block development council elections were held, 98.3 percent polling was recorded," he added. "99.7 percent of class 10 and class 12th students have appeared in their exams," said Shah. Watch | Not a single person died in police firing post August 5 in Kashmir: Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha As far as internet services are concerned, Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha that the government will restore Internet connection in Kashmir as soon as the local administration feels it is fit to do so. On the availability of medicines in the valley, Shah said that is present in an adequate amount and that there is no problem. "Mobile medicine vans have also started. The administration has taken care of health services," he said. While petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG and rice are also available in adequate amount, the Home Minister said. "22 lakh metric ton apples are expected to be produced. All landlines are open," he added. "I challenge Ghulam Nabi Azad sahab to counter these facts which I presented, why don't you object to these figures on record? I am willing to discuss this issue for even an hour," Amit Shah said. The Central government had in August announced a decision to scrap Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state in two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The two UTs came into existence on October 31. (with inputs from agencies)