Powerful Democratic Senator Mark Warner, who is co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, on Tuesday said that he is "disturbed by restrictions" on communications and movement of people in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the government to live up to democratic principles by allowing freedom of press, information and political participation.
Restrictions were imposed when New Delhi on August 5 to scrap Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and it was bifurcated it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
"While I understand India has legitimate security concerns, I am disturbed by its restrictions on communications and movement within Jammu and Kashmir," Senator Warner tweeted.
"I hope India will live up to its democratic principles by allowing freedom of press, information, and political participation," said the top Democratic Senator from Virginia, who has joined his other Senate colleagues from the Democratic party in calling India to lift restrictions.
The statement by Warner, who is also currently a Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is significant because he has been one of the best friends of India inside and outside the Senate.
For past several years, he has been Co-Chair of the influential Senate India Caucus which is the only country-specific caucus in the United States Senate. Warner has been co-author of several important India-centric legislations in the Senate.
Asserting that the removal of Article 370 was it's "internal matter", India has defended imposition of restrictions in the Kashmir Valley on the grounds that they were put to prevent Pakistan from creating more mischief through proxies and terrorists.
PM Modi Chairs Security Meet Amid Rising Terror Attacks In Jammu Major Crackdown Launched On Terror Network In J&K After Doda Encounter Hope Statehood Is Restored To Jammu And Kashmir Before Assembly Polls: Omar Abdullah The 'Fake' CrowdStrike Worker Who Crippled Windows Users Worldwide Pistol That Puja Khedkar's Mother Waved At Farmers In Viral Video Seized 500 Para Commandos To Hunt Pakistani Terrorists In Jammu After Attacks Delhi Lt Governor vs AAP Over Arvind Kejriwal's Blood Sugar Levels Study Abroad: Top 10 Management Universities In United States Of America Normal Bowel Movements Key To Reducing Chronic Disease Risk, Study Finds Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.