Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): Various delegations, including politicians, youth activists, students, journalists and women activists today met foreign envoys who are visiting Kashmir for assessment of the situation in the aftermath of abolition of Article 370.
During their interactions, they articulated demands ranging from release of politicians to restoration of internet.
BJP spokesperson Khalid Jehangir, who was among the delegates,urged the envoys to suggest to the central government releasing of mainstream politicians, including three former Chief Ministers, to win hearts of people.
“Government of India knows sufferings of people of Jammu and Kashmir at administrative level. The more the Centre shows administration skills, the more wounds of people will get healed. Further, I pressed for immediate release of the detained leaders including Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti if there are no charges of corruption against them. Politicians also enjoy human rights,” he said.
Politicians including ex- congress leaders Shoiab Lone and Usman Majeed also met the visiting delegation and raised the concerns in the backdrop of abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to the erstwhile state.
Youth activist from Baramulla, Tauseef Raina said he was flanked by other activists from his district who raised the issue of damage to people’s property due to ceasefire violation and promotion of the state a tourist destination.
“We told them to promote Kashmir handicrafts and tourism internationally. We urged the envoys that they should perform the role of bringing India and Pakistan on table for talks,” he said.
Activists from Pahari and Gujjar community also met the envoys and raised called for the implementation of Forest Conservation Act.
The envoys also had an interaction with a media delegation, who spoke about the continuing blockade of the broadband services in the valley. A delegation of students also met the visiting envoys.
Earlier the diplomats were scheduled to visit Baramulla to meet the apple growers and farmers but it could not happen because of “bad weather”.
Diplomats from 25 nations – including some from the European Union – reached Srinagar on Wednesday morning to assess ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir after abolition of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories.
The group includes envoys from heads of missions from European nations like France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands and Bulgaria, central Asian countries including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Envoys from Canada, New Zealand, Poland and African countries like Uganda, Namibia and Rwanda and Latin American countries of Guinea, Dominican Republic and Mexico were also part of the delegation.
