Congress, Shiv Sena Question Centre Over European Union Delegation's Visit To Jammu And Kashmir

On Tuesday, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad also slammed the government for allowing EU parliamentarians to visit Jammu and Kashmir, but not the country's opposition leaders.

Srinagar: Members of European Union Parliamentary delegation during a boat ride at Dal Lake in Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. Protest broke out in many parts of the city as a European Union MPs visited the valley (PTI Photo/S. Irfan)(PTI10_29_2019_000235B)

New Delhi: A political slugfest has started over the visit of European Union Parliament Delegation to Jammu and Kashmir as the Congress and BJP's ally in Maharashtra Shiv Sena launched attacks on the BJP-led Central government. Sena raised questions over the international delegation's Kashmir visit and has attacked the Centre asking if the situation is normal in Kashmir then what is the reason behind EU delegation visit? “If the Centre has an objection to UN interference, then how is the presence of EU delegation in Kashmir acceptable to it? Is their inspection, not an external attack?” the party questioned in its mouthpiece Saamna. On Tuesday, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad also slammed the government for allowing EU parliamentarians to visit Jammu and Kashmir, but not the country's opposition leaders. "I don't have an objection to the European Union Parliament delegation visiting Jammu and Kashmir. What I object to is that the MPs of our own country are not being allowed to visit the place. I myself tried to visit Srinagar several times but I was sent back," Azad said addressing a public gathering here. He said that he was finally allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir after the Supreme Court's permission. "Despite SC order, I was only allowed to visit selected places. Even at these places, police were sending 90 per cent of the people back to their houses. There were cameras everywhere and people were being asked their addresses. People were threatened to not speak against the government," Azad said. The Congress leader termed the EU parliamentarians' visit to Jammu and Kashmir as a "conducted tour". Later, addressing the media, Azad said: "Why are EU leaders being allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir when even the opposition leaders are not being allowed to go there? This is an insult to the Parliament of India." "Only some phones are working in the region while there is no internet connection. How are students suppose to study and businesses supposed to run?" he added. Azad said that he thinks the region has suffered a loss of around Rs 50-60 thousand crores since the abrogation of Article 370. The delegation of the European Union Members of Parliament (MPs) visiting Jammu and Kashmir was briefed by security forces, including the Army, on the role of Pakistan in fuelling terrorism in the Valley, sources in the Army said on Tuesday. The delegation arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday, a day after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. During their stay, they will meet Jammu and Kashmir administration officials as well as local residents in Srinagar and call on Governor Saya Pal Malik.