Govt asks RaGa, other leaders not to visit Srinagar

TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/24/2019 11:16:41 AM Front Page

SRINAGAR: As a delegation of opposition parties, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday in the wake of abrogation of Article 370, the Governor’s administration requested them against visiting the state, saying attempts should not be made to disturb the gradual restoration of normal life.

The delegation would comprise of nine opposition parties including Congress, CPI-M, CPI, RJD, NCP, TMC and DMK and it would be led by Gandhi which would meet the people and party leaders in the region where restrictions have been imposed since the abrogation of Article 370.

A senior Congress leader told that "Rahul Gandhi along with senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and leaders from CPI, CPI-M, RJD, DMK and others will be part of the delegation".

Sources said that other leaders would include Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Tiruchi Siva, Manoj Jha and Dinesh Trivedi who will leave for Srinagar around noon from Delhi airport.

However, Governor Malik’s administration issued a statement on Friday night asking political leaders not to visit the Valley as it would disturb the gradual restoration of peace and normal life. It also said the visit by politicians would be in violation of restrictions that have been imposed in many areas of the Valley.

In a series of tweets, the Information and Public Relations Department of the Jammu & Kashmir government said: "At a time when the government is trying to protect the people of Jammu & Kashmir from the threat of cross border terrorism and attacks by militants and separatists and gradually trying to restore public order by controlling miscreants and mischief mongers, 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.

"They would also be violating restrictions that are still there in many areas. Senior leaders should understand that top priority would be given to maintaining peace, order and preventing loss of human lives."

Senior Congress leaders were huddled in a meeting on Friday evening to discuss the issue within the party.

The sources said the leaders also intend to visit some other parts of the state, if allowed to enter.

So far, the government has not allowed any political leader to enter the state ever since provisions of Article 370 were abrogated by the Centre.

Earlier, Azad was not allowed to enter Srinagar once and Jammu twice and was sent back to Delhi. Similarly, CPI and CPI-M General Secretaries D. Raja and Sitaram Yechury were also not allowed to enter Srinagar and were detained at the airport and then sent back to Delhi.

Earlier this month, Gandhi also had a run-in with Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik on Twitter. The Governor had said that Gandhi was trying to politicise the matter of Jammu and Kashmir and that he should visit the valley if he wants to know the "real ground situation."


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