Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav says internet services will be restored in Kashmir and batches of detained political leaders will be released“in phases”.

 “There were 2 major restrictions in J&K. One was the internet services that is about to be restored. Other was leaders under detention, regarding that Government will be releasing 20-25 leaders in phases. J&K is like any other part of the country now,” Ram Madhav told ANI.“Jammu and Kashmir is like any other part of the country now,” he added.

The region has been under a lock down since early August 2019, when the Home Ministry told Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir, then a state, would lose its special status and be split into two Union Territories —J&K and Ladakh.

The bifurcation came into effect on October 31.The Supreme Court on Friday asked for a review of all orders on unlawful assembly (Section 144) and Internet suspension within seven days, followed by weekly periodic reviews.

It asked that all orders on Internet suspension and travel restrictions be published to enable legal challenges. The court said the right to access Internet was a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution, and that total shutdowns were “drastic” measures that should be considered only when “absolutely necessary”.