SRINAGAR: Rahul Gandhi behaved like a “political juvenile” over Kashmir issue despite being “a boy of a renowned family”, J&K governor Satya Pal Malik said while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

On being asked about his war of words with Rahul over his visit to Kashmir, Malik said, “I do not wish to talk about Rahul Gandhi because he is a boy of a renowned family of the country, but he has behaved like a political juvenile. As a result, his name has been mentioned in Pakistan ’s letter to the United Nations .”

Malik also criticised Congress and sought to know their stand on the status of J&K in the wake of a controversial statement of the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

“He (Rahul) should have spoken up when their leader in the Lok Sabha linked the issue of Kashmir with the United Nations. He should have stopped and scolded his leader and cleared his party’s stand,” he added.

On the continuing restrictions in J&K, including suspension of mobile phone services, the governor said the curbs were there for the safety and security of people.

“The medium of phone and internet is used less by people and mostly by militants and Pakistanis. The medium is also used for mobilisation and indoctrination. It is a kind of weapon (which is often) used against us, so we have stopped it. Services will be resumed gradually,” he said, adding that mobile phones will first start ringing in Kupwara and Handwara areas of Kashmir.

The governor said people of Kashmir were not facing these problems for the first time. Mobile and landline services had been suspended earlier also, he added.

Answering a question on the use of pellet guns during recent protests in the Valley, Malik said they were used with “utmost precaution”. He said protesters had received pellet injuries only below their waists.

Meanwhile, shops and business establishments remained shut and students skipped schools in the Valley on Wednesday. The Authorities had over a week ago announced opening of schools in Kashmir up to Class 10 but concerned parents haven’t allowed their wards to venture out due to security reasons.

