New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and formerJammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti questioned the Centre over European Union (EU) delegation's visit to Kashmir on Tuesday and asked if the EU MP's are allowed to visit the state, why wasn't Congress leader Rahul Gandhi allowed to do so.
Mufti's statements were posted on her official Twitter account, being managed by her daughter Iltija as the former CM is under house arrest since the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K.
"If scrapping Article 370 integrated J&K intoIndia, why is Shri Rahul Gandhi barred from visiting Kashmir? Instead, a groupof far right & fascist leanings EU MPs is allowed by GOI. Your ticket toKashmir is possible only if you're a fascist with a visceral hatred for Muslims,"read one of her tweets. Twenty-eight European lawmakers are scheduled to travelto Kashmir on Tuesday, in a first visit by any foreign delegation to the valleysince the revocation of Article 370.
Days after Article 370 was abrogated, a delegation led byRahul Gandhi was asked to return to New Delhi from Srinagar airport. Later,former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was detained at the airport while tryingto enter the region.Meanwhile, Mufti further said that the government was in a"lose-lose" situation in any scenario and also questioned as to whythe delegation should not be allowed to meet former chief ministers FarooqAbdullah, his son Omar and herself.
"Why can't they meet all three former CMs? Either waysthere are two scenarios. The delegation will state situation is normal. In thatcase, the next logical step is to release detainees and restore the internet.If they say Kashmir is in limbo, it's a major embarrassment for GOI. Lose-losesituation," Mufti stated.
The PDP chief has been continuously attacking the governmenton Article 370 move, which revoked the special status given to J&K. Thegovernment had announced the decision to end the special status given toJ&K and restructure the state into two Union Territories - Jammu andKashmir and Ladakh - on August 5.On Monday, the EU delegation met PrimeMinister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and discussedthe situation prevailing in Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370. In astatement, PM Modi expressed hope that members of the delegation will have afruitful visit to various parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.
"Their visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give thedelegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity ofthe region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; apart from giving them a clear view ofthe development and governance priorities of the region," the PrimeMinister's office said.
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