"Only 200-250 Under Detention In J&K, Some In 5-Star Hotels": Ram Madhav

Only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan is the status of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir: Ram Madhav

Only 200-250 people are under preventive detention in Jammu and Kashmir, and they are in five-star facilities, BJP leader Ram Madhav said on Monday, speaking at an event on the government's decision to end special status to the state under Article 370 and the security restrictions that followed.

Ram Madhav said initially, "around 2,000 to 2,500" people were placed under preventive detention in Jammu and Kashmir. "Today in Jammu and Kashmir only 200-250 people are under preventive detention in view of the law and order. They have been kept under preventive detention respectfully, some in five-star guest houses, some in five-star hotels," said the BJP national general secretary.

"I would also like to say that 200-250 people have been put under preventive detention and there has been peace in Kashmir since two months. You can understand what the people of Kashmir want and what these 200-250 people want," said Mr Madhav.

He also asserted that in 1994, a unanimous decision was taken that the only point left to discuss with Pakistan was when they would hand over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India. "The only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan with respect to Kashmir is the status of PoK," he said.

Hundreds of politicians, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been under detention since August 4, when the Article 370 decision was announced. Omar Abdullah's father Farooq Abdullah, also a former chief minister, was recently placed under house arrest under the Public Safety Act.

Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court against the detentions, which the government said were necessary in order to prevent any violent protests over the Kashmir decision.