Former actor Zaira Wasim, who hails from Kashmir, has condemned the internet blackout and curfews in the region. She shared a lengthy note on Instagram and said that there is a “false and uneasy semblance of calmness” in Kashmir.

The Indian government put Kashmir on lockdown and stepped up the military presence in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370, as a preventive measure. While roadblocks and phone services have been restored, 2G mobile services have been restored in the Valley, with access limited to white-listed websites..

Sharing a picture of a single white flower, Zaira wrote on Instagram, “Kashmir continues to suffer and see-saw between hope and frustration. There’s a false and uneasy semblance of calmness in place of escalating despair and sorrow. Kashmiris continue to exist and suffer in a world where it is so easy to place restrictions on our liberty. Why do we have to live in world where our lives and wills are controlled, dictated and bent? Why is it so easy to have our voices silenced? Why is it so easy to curtail our freedom of expression? Why aren’t we ever allowed to voice our opinions, let alone our disprovals to decisions that are made contrary to our wishes? Why is it that instead of trying to see the cause of our view, our view is just condemned ruthfully?”

“What is so easy to curb our voices so severely? Why can we not live simple lives without always having to wrestle and remind the world of our existence. Why is that life of a Kashmiri is just about experiencing a lifetime of crisis, blockade and disturbance so abundantly that it has taken away the recognition of normalcy and harmony from the hearts and minds?” she added.