Srinagar (NVI): Amid global on the situation in Kashmir, a 27-member delegation of European Members of Parliament reached Srinagar on October 29 to assess the ground reality in the Valley after the government gave permission for the “unofficial” visit.
This is the first foreign delegation that has been allowed to visit Kashmir after government scrapped the special status granted to J&K under Article 370 in August. It has been clarified by the government that the EU MPs are visiting the Valley in personal capacity.
The visit, following a perceived policy shift by the government, is significant for India’s global efforts to nullify Pakistan’s negative narrative on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir since abrogation of the special status to the State.
The EU parliamentary delegation, comprising of MPs from UK, Poland, France and other countries will interact with locals in Kashmir valley to get a first-hand understanding of the situation over there.
Soon after landing in Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and police personnel briefed them about all precautionary measures they are required to follow during their inspection of the Valley.
According to reports, the delegation will meet Governor Satya Pal Malik and will be briefed by the 15 Corps Commander about the situation in Kashmir. The members will also meet senior J&K Police officials besides interacting with local body representatives.
Earlier on October 28, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in a meeting with the delegation, had said that normalcy has returned to most parts of the Valley and had rejected Pakistan’s propaganda on Kashmir.
-nad
