Kashmir: What did 23 foreign lawmakers say?

23 European Union MPs’ visit to Kashmir was highly disputed. Opposition parties asked that the Modi government is not letting the MPs and activists of the country go to Kashmir, on the other hand, sending foreign MPs to Kashmir. READ MORE

The CPM and Congress asked that if everything is normal in Kashmir, then why were the selected MPs from abroad allowed to go. Many people also raised questions that Kashmir is an internal matter, so why are foreign MPs being sent?

When this group of 23 MPs reached Srinagar on Tuesday, they met Indian Army officials and also visited Dal Lake. These MPs visited in the heavy presence of security forces. After the Kashmir visit on Wednesday morning, the MPs addressed the media and shared their experience.

Local media of Srinagar say that local media was not allowed to attend this press conference. According to the news agencies, “As soon as this party of 23 MPs came to the Army Headquarters and the Army took them to the Line of Control.” National Conference MP Akbar Lone has said that this is an attempt to deceive the international community.

Speaking to the media, one MP of this group said, “We are part of the international delegation. India is trying to end terrorism to establish peace and we fully support it. We thank the Government of India and the local administration for the warm welcome. ‘’ READ MORE

Some MPs said that terrorism is a serious problem in Kashmir. Some MPs said that there is a problem in Kashmir but the Indian government will solve it.

On Tuesday, five workers were killed by extremists in Kashmir. These MPs also condemned it. According to a news agency, French MP Henri Malose said, “If we talk about Article 370, it is an internal matter of India.” Our concern is about terrorism and this is a global problem in which we are standing with India. We condemn it.

Newton Dunn of Britain, who joined this group, said, “We belong to Europe and after years of conflict, peace came here. I want India to become a peaceful country in the world.” We need to stand with India because it is fighting terrorism. It was an eye-opening tour. ‘’

Officials at the Embassy of European Union member countries in New Delhi said on the MPs’ visit to Kashmir, “We have read about this tour in newspapers.” They have said that this is a very personal visit.

This is the first time that an international team was allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir after ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. On August 5, the Modi government divided Jammu and Kashmir into two parts after neutralizing Article 370.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that if a US senator asked to go to Kashmir, he was not allowed to go. On the visit of this group of EU MPs, Owaisi said that people were sent to Kashmir. He said that it was a sponsored and fixed tour.

These MPs visited in a bulletproof vehicle with a team of security forces. The army took them from Srinagar Airport to a hotel in Srinagar. Most MPs have a right-wing ideology. All of them have come on a tour of Kashmir in a personal capacity.

These MPs also met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subramaniam and Police Chief Dilbag Singh. Apart from this, he also met recently elected panchayat chiefs. It is being said that these MPs did not meet the leading civil society. Local media says that this group of MPs did not meet the local people and went to some places with the army.

The tour of these MPs ended with a visit to Dal Lake. Dal Lake is a very popular destination of Kashmir. According to news agencies, the MP passed through Boating close to the Centaur Hotel, where more than 30 leaders and activists have been kept closed.

European Parliament member Chris Davis was also scheduled to join the group but he claims that the invitation given to him was later withdrawn and he was not given a place in the panel. According to Davis, who represents North West England, he had placed a condition in front of the Indian administration for this tour. That condition was that in Kashmir they should be given the freedom to roam and talk to the people.

Speaking to a leading TV channel in India, Davis said, “I said that I want freedom in Kashmir to go where I want to go and talk to whoever I want to talk to. Army, police or Instead of the security forces, there should be a team of independent journalists and television. In modern society, freedom of the press is very important. Under no circumstances can we allow the news to be cut short. There should be truthful and honest reporting of what is happening. “

Earlier, India turned down the US Senator Chris Van Hollen’s request to go to Kashmir. The opposition party Congress and CPM have said that the government has banned Indian leaders and MPs from going to Kashmir and is allowing foreign MPs to leave.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, “MPs from Europe are being welcomed for a guided tour in Jammu and Kashmir, while Indian MPs are banned.

Originally published at https://www.mubahisa.in.