Soon, people from PoK will say Kashmir ideal place to live in: Governor Satya Pal Malik

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said the state will be an ideal place to live following the abrogation of Article 370. “We have abrogated article 370, and you will see in the coming days, we will work so much for the people of Kashmir, and create such circumstances, that people of PoK will start saying- see, that Jammu and Kashmir is the ideal place to live,” news agency ANI quoted Malik as saying.

The Centre had on August 5 announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and decided to bifurcate the state into Union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - hours after Kashmir was placed under a total clampdown.

Malik on Sunday defended communication blockade in the Valley saying there’s no harm in taking such steps if it saves lives. “In all the crises that have happened in Kashmir in the past, at least 50 people used to die in the first week itself. Our attitude is such that there should be no loss of human lives. Dus din telephone nahi honge, nahi honge, lekin hum bahut jaldi sab wapas kar denge (It’s okay if that means there is no telephone service for 10 days… but we will restore everything very soon),” Malik told reporters when asked to comment on how long the restrictions will continue.

Malik also said there has been no shortage of medicines and essential commodities anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir and enough stocks were available for the people to buy.

"There is no shortage of essential commodities and medicines in Kashmir, in fact, we delivered meat, vegetables, and eggs to people's houses on Eid, your opinion will change in 10-15 days," he said.

Life in the Valley has been badly affected in the last few weeks, as shops, business establishments and all markets remained shut, resulting into a crunch of essential commodities across several areas. All kinds of transport remained off the roads in parts of Kashmir even days after the government's move.