Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar has lashed out at the central government for causing a shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir after revoking Article 370 and bifurcating the state into two union territories.
Matondkar, who unsuccessfully contested as a Congress candidate from a Mumbai seat in this year general elections said that her husband had not been able to speak to his parents since 5 August. According to the actor-turned-politician, her in-laws have been residents of Kashmir for over two decades.
“The question is not only about abrogating Article 370. It was done in an inhuman manner,” news agency PTI quoted Matondkar as saying.
She added, “My father-in-law and mother-in-law stay there. Both are diabetic, have high blood pressure. Today is the 22nd day, neither me nor my husband have been able to speak to them. We have no clue if they have medicines available at home.”
Urmila has been vocal about her views on the situation in Kashmir. While wishing late Mother Teresa on her birth anniversary, she had written, “We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion.”
We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion.” Remembering #MotherTeresa on her birth anniversary ??#MotherTeresaBirthAnniversary ? pic.twitter.com/iBdhCE9f6t
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) August 26, 2019
In another tweet posted on 24 August, Urmila wrote, “Govt.’s desperate attempts to show “rosy picture of normalcy”in JnK is beyond pathetic. With #370Scrapped and talks of bright future,till when is this torture of local people and leaders going to end? How is “sabka vishwas” ever possible like this??”
Govt.’s desperate attempts to show “rosy picture of normalcy”in JnK is beyond pathetic. With #370Scrapped and talks of bright future,till when is this torture of local people and leaders going to end? How is “sabka vishwas” ever possible like this??#KashmirStillUnderCurfew https://t.co/69AA8oJTst
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) August 24, 2019
The government has imposed unprecedented restrictions in Kashmir since announcing its decision to revoke Article 370 on 5 August. The valley has been without mobile phone connectivity or internet for over 24 days now. A large part of Srinagar continues to remain inaccessible for others with the state capital turning into a fortress. Armed members of Indian security forces have been present across the Srinagar city.
