Srinagar: Mainstream politicians in the Valley, currently detained at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC) in Srinagar, spend most of their days in their hotel rooms and are only able to interact with each other during meals served in the common dining hall.
The politicians, who include the first and second rung leadership of the National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Conference, and Shah Faesal, have been detained at the Centaur Hotel, which is located in the SKICC compound.
Their families told ThePrint that the leaders are mainly confined to their rooms where they mostly watch the news and movies at times. “They don’t have any technology — no laptops and no iPads,” said the son of a PDP politician. “They watch the news all day and maybe a movie at times on television. They ask us about what is happening outside. That is perhaps the highlight of their day.”
According to the family of a former National Conference MLA, the politicians initially ate their meals in their rooms but are now allowed into the common dining hall. “The timings are fixed for all the meals but it gives them a chance to talk to each other,” said the son of the former MLA. “Otherwise they spend all of their days watching TV.”
The lunch and dinner menu, he said, included vegetables and dal. “Chicken is served once or twice a week but is rationed. They get only one piece,” he said. “They get chapatis during the day and rice for dinner.”
Another family friend accompanying him said, “Kashmiris don’t eat chapatis. I guess they are making them familiar with eating chapatis now that Article 370 is removed”.
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Prolonged detention
The politicians were all taken into custody on 5 August, after the Modi government scrapped Article 370 for the state.
They were herded into the luxury Centaur Hotel located on the banks of the Dal Lake. The hotel once hosted national and international events but the entire compound was given the status of a sub-jail by a state government order in the first week of August, a senior government official said.
Though it is widely believed that nearly 40 politicians were lodged in SKICC in the first week of August, the number has grown. Officials refuse to release the exact number of politicians detained there but one government source, however, said 107 politicians are currently lodged in the SKICC.
The politicians have a room of their own and entry into other floors is strictly restricted. Initially, movement in the floor lobby was also restricted, according to one relative, but now the politicians are allowed to take walks in their floor. The hotel park is not out of bounds, and so is the main lobby.
“The frisking at the main SKICC gate is rigorous. Not even our car keys are allowed,” said the daughter of one politician. “The food and clothes that we get are checked but all of it has to be brought in transparent polythene and utensils. Once in, an official sends a message to bring out the family member who is then accompanied by officials to the hotel main lobby where we are allowed to speak.”
She added that the administration has eased restrictions on time spent with family members. “Initially the time allotted to speak was less and officials would remind us that we were running out of time but now it is a little relaxed,” she said. “We can speak as much as we want but between 11 am and 4 pm.”
An advocate, who is also a relative of a detained NC politician, said the rooms were stripped of any objects, especially sharp ones that could be used as weapons to inflict self-harm.
“Nail cutters, hangers, blades and other sharp objects were taken out,” he said. “We were told we can give them trimmers to shave or trim beards. In-house barbers are being arranged from time to time.”
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“Kashmiris don’t eat chapatis. I guess they are making them familiar with eating chapatis now that Article 370 is removed”. Chapatis will do no harm to their health. A diet of dal and vegetables will add lot of fibre in their guts and will help them in the long run. It will also sharpen their brain. they just need to look at Modi who is a pure vegetarian.