Restrictions Eased In Kashmir To Allow Friday Prayers In Local Mosques

The Prime Minister assured that any problem of people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was his own and the Centre would be with them in their happy as well as sad moments.

Security personnel stand guard at a roadblock ahead of Muslim's Friday noon prayers in Jammu on August 9, 2019. PIC/AFP.

Srinagar: Restrictions were eased today to allow people in the Kashmir Valley to offer Friday prayers in local mosques, officials said. However, no Friday congregation was allowed at the historic Jama Masjid here. The move comes after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval directed authorities to ensure that no Kashmiris were harassed, they said. "In view of expected gathering of people at mosques for Friday prayers, there is apprehension of mass protests and accordingly necessary steps were taken to ensure peace," a security official said. The officials clarified that people will be allowed to offer prayers in mosques located in their locality. This comes after senior leaders of the CPIM Sitaram Yechury, D Raja who detained at Srinagar Airport. Reports say the two leaders were their way to meet party leader Mohn Yusif Tarigami and other activists. The entire region was put under lock-down since Monday with internet and phone lines being snapped. Meanwhile,  NSA Ajit Doval visited downtown Srinagar to take a stock of the situation at around noon. Downtown Srinagar is seen as a hub of stone pelting. Doval engaged with troops and commoners and had lunch with CRPF personnel here. In a televised speech on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pakistan used Article 370 and 35A as a weapon to instigate the feelings of some people against the country, and that the two articles gave Jammu and Kashmir people nothing but separatism, terrorism and huge corruption. In his first address to the nation after revocation of Article 370, he said at least 42,000 people were killed due to misuse of these articles. "This figure is enough to bring tears in eyes of anyone," he said. Modi said the development of Jammu and Kashmir could not happen in that speed which was the right of the region that has now been bifurcated, after Parliament's approval on Monday, in two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one. "With the betterment of current system, not only the present of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will improve but also their future will go into new direction," he said. The Prime Minister assured that any problem of people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was his own and the Centre would be with them in their happy as well as sad moments. His announcement came days after scrapping of Article 370 which gives special status to the region, and announcement to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories.