Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, besides even BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, on Monday criticised the Government for allowing a set of Parliamentarians from European Union (EU)to visit Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) while denying the country’s own political parties from going there.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said there was something very wrong with European MPs being given a guided tour of Jammu & Kashmir and Indian MPs denied entry there. “MPs from Europe are welcome to go on a guided tour of Jammu & Kashmir while Indian MPs are banned and denied entry. There is something very wrong with that,” he said on Twitter.
Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the party would raise the issue in Parliament, adding India's decision violates the collective privileges of its MPs.
Criticising the Government’s decision, Swamy tweeted, “I am surprised that the MEA has arranged for European Union MPs, in their private capacity (not EU’s official delegation) to visit Kashmir area of J&K. This is a perversion of our national policy. I urge the Government cancel this visit because it is immoral,”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked as to why the “chest-beating champion of nationalism”, in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has allowed European leaders to visit J&K.
“When Indian political leaders have been prevented from meeting the people of J&K, what possessed the great chest-beating champion of nationalism to allow European politicians to visit J&K. This is an outright insult to India’s own Parliament and our democracy,” the former Union Minister tweeted. His party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad had to approach the Supreme Court to visit the State.
For his part, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitram Yechury asked why were Indian political party leaders and MPs repeatedly prevented from exiting Srinagar airport?
“I was allowed to enter Srinagar only when the Supreme Court permitted over my habeas corpus petition. Even today Indian MPs are not allowed while Modi welcomes MEPs,” Yechury tweeted.
CPI General Secretary D Raja said it’s a great irony that foreign delegations were more important than our own elected representatives. While Indian MPs were stopped from going to Srinagar and sent back from airport, EU MPs are being extended the courtesy by Modi regime, Raja stated.