Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Rahul Gandhi are set to visit Srinagar today to review the situation on the ground level. Leaders from other opposition parties will also join them.
On being asked about the reasons for the need for opposition’s delegation Srinagar, Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his views to the media that there is a parallel contradiction going in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ghulam Nabi Azad who is part of Opposition delegation which will visit J&K today: On one hand Govt says situation is normal, and on the other hand they don't allow anyone to go.Never seen such contradictions. If things normal then why political leaders are under house arrest? pic.twitter.com/xRlD8DNGuU
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019
The delegation will include members of Congress, CPI(M), CPI, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress, and the DMK party. Nationalist Congress Party leader Majeed Memon have leaned in to explain their stand on the visit.
NCP leader Majeed Memon who is part of Opposition delegation which will visit J&K today: Our motive is not to go & create disturbances, we aren't going in govt's opposition, we are going in govt's support, so that we too give suggestions as to what must be done. pic.twitter.com/U502HYoEz1
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019
The decision to review the situation by opposition leaders have been taken in the light of assessing the reality of freedom and security conditions in the erstwhile state. Restrictions on communication and vehicular movement were placed in the region following the decision to scrap Article 370. Centre had abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the former state into 2 Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
However, the department of Jammu & Kashmir Information and Public relations has advised the leaders not to visit the state. The department urged the political leaders should refrain coming and putting people at an inconvenience. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir had also asked the opposition leaders to not visit Srinagar as it can create a disturbance in the gradual restoration of normal life.
attempts should not be made by senior political leaders to disturb the gradual restoration of normal life. Political leaders are requested to cooperate and not visit Srinagar as they would be putting other people to inconvenience. (2/3)
— Information & PR, J&K (@diprjk) August 23, 2019
The delegation is going after Rahul Gandhi accepted the invitation of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik to visit the state and review the situation themselves before questioning the government.
Dear Governor Malik,
A delegation of opposition leaders & I will take you up on your gracious invitation to visit J&K and Ladakh.
We won’t need an aircraft but please ensure us the freedom to travel & meet the people, mainstream leaders and our soldiers stationed over there. https://t.co/9VjQUmgu8u
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2019
But the leaders want to visit the state to talk to the locals and analyze the real-time situation in the valley. Oppositions have made an uproar on the illegal detention of leaders in the former state. Currently, political leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and Shah Faesal and many others have been put under house arrest.
Previously many leaders have been detained at Srinagar airport and were not allowed to reach into the valley. Congress party senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was also detained at the airport, from where he was sent back to Delhi.
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