Srinagar: A 23-member delegation of European Union members of Parliament has reached Srinagar on Tuesday and will shortly see first-hand the ground situation in the region after the scrapping of Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. The EU delegation has also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day. The delegation of EU members, who were briefed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday, also called on Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

This will be the first visit by any international delegation to Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, when the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to withdraw the decade old 'special status' privileges to its residents and split the state into two Union Territories (UTs). “It is a good opportunity for us to go into Kashmir as a foreign delegation and to be able to see firsthand for ourselves what is happening on the ground,” said Nathan Gill, Member of European Parliament from Wales told news agency ANI.

Reportedly, the EU delegation will be briefed by the Chief Secretary on why the communication blockade was necessary in Jammu and Kashmir, the measures taken to alleviate the woes of the local populace under stress due to the dragnet and how these will be systematically removed.

They will also be briefed by the Director General of Police (DGP) explaining the overall security grid, the presence of sleeping modules, both local and state sponsored proxies from across the border, actions taken against these desperados and the heightened vigil across the security perimeter so that a repeat of the Pulwama attack doesn't happen.

Details will also be given about the recent terror incidents where Pakistan sponsored proxies were trying to target institutions so that normal life didn't get restored. Their visit comes just ahead of the October 31 formal bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories (UT) - of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Ahead of the bifurcation, the Central government has appointed two Lieutenant-Governors (LG) for the two new UTs, with former close aide of Modi, G.C. Murmu going as the LG to Srinagar. However, the move has not gone well with the Opposition, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who thinks there is something wrong.  “MPs from Europe are welcome to go on a guided tour of Jammu and Kashmir while Indian MPs are banned and denied entry. There is something very wrong with that,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

The Prime Minister, while welcoming the delegation at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, had expressed hope that they will have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir.  According to reports, PM explained to the foreign MPs that the alteration of policies in Jammu and Kashmir were meant to achieve peace and ensure development in the region. He also focused on the importance of zero-tolerance towards terrorism.