Home minister Amit Shah has been "very kind, libera land lenient" in placing preventive measures such as detentions and house arrests in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of State Jitendra Singh said on Friday."In fact, they [those placed under preventive detention[ are even getting... what they are asking for... including brown bread for breakfast andgym. So this is purely preventive."

Jitendra Singh was speaking at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2019 more than 45 days after the government imposed a communication sclamp down in Jammu and Kashmir. The restrictions were placed after the government moved to scrap Jammu and Kashmir's special status, accorded under Article 370, and to divide the state into two Union Territories.

As part of the restrictions, top leaders of the state --including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- have been placed under preventive detentions.

Speaking at the Conclave, Jitendra Singh defended the government's move saying, "Things have actually gone in the manner inwhich the Kashmiris want."

"Amit Shah has been very kind, liberal and very lenientin carrying out these preventive measures," Jitendra Singh said before bringing up how years ago Sheikh Abdullah was put under house arrest and sent2,000 km away to Tamil Nadu.

"What I am trying to say is that the type of preventivedetention in Kashmir today has been very kind, liberal, and lenient... in factthey [those under detention] are even getting the kinds of requirements theyare asking for... including brown bread for breakfast and gym etc. So this is purelypreventive," Singh said.

Singh also challenged the popular notion that entire Kashmirwas under a lockdown. "Out of nearly 200 police stations, there are onlyabout a dozen police station areas where restrictions are in toto. Elsewherethey have been lifted. There is no curfew."