Before Shah's speech, senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said there is a war like situation i nthe Valley. " Entire valley is under curfew, political leaders including three former chief ministers are under house arrest. There is a war like situation in the state, so this should be discussed on priority."
Amid an unprecedented lockdown, build-up of troops and flaring tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, , the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met this morning. This was followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval meting at the PM's residence.
Their meeting was preceeded by another metting that started an hour earlier in which Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was also present.
The CCS meeting that included Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lasted for 40 minutes.
It concluded before the Union Cabinet met that included Nitin Gadkari. Sources said that the committee discussed issues of internal security in the Valley.
Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone, were placed under house arrest as strict restrictions were imposed in the Kashmir Valley from early Monday morning.
The state administration has also imposed Section 144 in Srinagar, as well as in Jammu, while mobile Internet services have also been suspended.
(With agency inputs)