New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS): The violence in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town is not just a communal clash but "a threat to India's sovereignty", Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Monday.

"It is not an inter-community disturbance. In inter-community disturbances flags of a neighbouring country are not flashed... This is an issue of threat to India's sovereignty," Jaitley said in the upper house.

"Things will go back to what is was in 1990 if the situation is not brought in control," Jaitley said while referring to the beginning of the insurgency in the state that led to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

The BJP leader was detained at Jammu airport Sunday on his way to Kishtwar and not allowed to visit the clash-hit areas.

He criticised the state government for stopping him.

"India is not a banana republic to impose (Section) 144 and stop someone from entering the state. Jammu and Kashmir is not some family's property, it is an integral part of India. This is the plight of democracy in the state," he said.

He asked the central government to clarify how prohibitory order can be used to stop someone from going to a state.

"In that way, all BJP-ruled states would use Section 144 to stop Congress leaders from coming there," he said.

He slammed the state government for not acting to control the situation and then practising censorship.

"What took place is unfortunate. Procession took selective targeting, it was brought to notice of government at highest level. Within minutes information started reaching Delhi what has happened. People were crying out of helplessness, and the police was spectator. A senior official may be involved ... that has to be investigated," Jaitley said.

He added that his visit to the area would have only led to cooling of tempers.