Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Sunday there was no harm in the communication blockade and other restrictions imposed in Kashmir as they saved lives.
He was in Delhi to attend the final rites of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Mr. Malik denied any shortage of medicines and essential commodities, insisting that no life had been lost in J&K since August 5 when the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill to withdraw its special status.
The Valley has been under a clampdown for three weeks.
“If blockade of communication helps saves lives, what is the harm,” he asked presspersons who asked how long the restrictions would continue.
Mr. Malik said whenever there was a crisis in Kashmir in the past, at least 50 people would die by the first week. “Our attitude is that there should be no loss of human life. If there is no phone connection for 10 days, so be it. But, we will restore everything soon... In fact, we delivered meat, vegetables and eggs to people’s doorsteps on Id,” he said.
“I was advised by Arun Jaitley to take up the responsibility as Governor. He told me that it will be historic,” he said.
In a statement, the Jammu and Kashmir administration said 1,165 of the 1,666 chemist shops in Srinagar remained open on Sunday.
It said all 376 notified drugs and 62 essential/life-saving drugs were available. “Both categories for 15-20 days stock,” it added.
(With PTI inputs)
