n BJP allies at Centre JD(U) and Shiv Sena on Wednesday joined the Opposition ranks in questioning the Government move to send the EU delegation to Kashmir even as the Congress came out hard demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the foreign MPs' visit terming it as the “biggest diplomatic blunder” in India's history.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary wrote to the PM suggesting him to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir to assess the situation there. The parties on either side of the divide blamed the Government of deliberately internationalising the Kashmir issue.

While JD(U) spokesperson Pavan Varma, a former diplomat, articulated his party's position on the two-day visit to the Valley by the 23-member European Union delegation, Shiv Sena also took strong objection to it, asserting that it is "not an international issue".

"There are several contradictions in the visit. On the one hand India is against internationalising the issue but on the other hand we have allowed a visit by these parliamentarians in their personal capacity. Was it an appropriate time? What is the criteria for selecting these members," he asked.

Varma also said the EU delegation visited Kashmir when Indian lawmakers were unable to do so. He said the government should take steps to normalise Kashmir at the earliest. Other Opposition parties too stepped up their attack against the government over EU MPs' Kashmir trip asking the Centre how these foreign lawmakers were allowed to visit the Valley while Indian leaders were denied permission.

Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' wondered Isn't the EU delegation's visit an "external invasion" of India's independence and sovereignty?  When Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was still criticised for taking the issue to the United Nations (UN), why were the EU parliamentarians allowed to visit Kashmir? the saffron alliance partner asked.

However, the Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, praised the Modi Government for having won the fight against "Pakistan-sponsored terrorism" by revoking Jammu & Kashmir's special status under Article 370.

The grand old party questioned how an "international business broker" like Madi Sharma, who is alleged to have organised the private visit of European Union parliamentarians to Kashmir, have access to the Prime Minister's Office. Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that while farmers and unemployed youth did not have the facility of meeting the Prime Minister and airing their grievances, "international business brokers" like Sharma were giving assurance that the visit would be sponsored.

"We have access to the PM's Office, we will arrange a meeting with the PM. How did these business brokers have access to the PMO," Vadra said in a tweet in Hindi.

CPI questioned why Indian leaders were not allowed to visit the Valley. CPI general secretary D Raja said he tried to visit Kashmir twice, but was detained and sent back. Raja also asked the government to explain the purpose of the visit, and reveal the affiliation of the members of the delegation.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Chowdhury, slammed BJP for allegedly pursuing "wrong policies" that led to "worsening" of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. He also wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to ensure safety and security of non-Kashmiris working there in various capacities.

In a separate letter to Prime Minister, Adhir requested Modi to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir to assess the situation there and extend financial support to the victims' families from his relief fund. "The Government is not allowing an all-party delegation of the country to visit the Valley but is allowing an EU delegation," he said.

A large number of people from West Bengal, especially Murshidabad district, are employed in Kashmir, Chowdhury who is a five-time MP from Berhampore in the district, said in his letter to Shah. "Please ensure safety and security of these people as the family members are unable to connect with them. All the labourers and workers in the valley should return to their homes safely," he said in a letter to Home Minister.