NEW DELHI: A dozen of Indian opposition parties leaders, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi among them, who had landed at the Srinagar airport were sent back New Delhi on Saturday.
“I have invited Rahul Gandhi to come here. I will send you a plane, to observe (the situation) and then speak up,” occupied Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had said on August 11.
On Friday, the Jammu And Kashmir Information and Public Relations Department had tweeted that political leaders should not visit Srinagar as they would be putting people to inconvenience at a time when government is trying to protect the people of valley from the threat of cross border terrorism and attacks.
The leaders of various political parties including Congress, CPI(M), CPI, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress and the DMK were part of the visiting delegation.
“We are all responsible political parties and leaders. We are not going to break any law. The Jammu and Kashmir situation is very concerning. It’s close to 20 days. No news for 20 days. The government says the situation is normal. But then they don’t allow leaders to go? Haven’t seen such contradiction… If it’s normal, why aren’t we allowed?” Congress leader Mr Azad said before he left for the airport this morning in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.
The delegation of opposition leaders had planned to visit other parts of the state.
Meanwhile, jails in the occupied Kashmir have ran out of capacity and now thousands of people detained without charges by Indian forces are being shifted via planes to other parts of the country.
Over 10,000 innocent people have been arrested by Indian forces over fears of unrest following the complete lockdown imposed in the valley on Aug 5.
India had abrogated Article 370 on August 5 withdrawing special status given to occupied Kashmir.
A local magistrate said that over 4,000 people had been arrested under the controversial Public Safety Act.
Most of the arrested Kashmiris have been flown out of the valley as jails here are running of capacity.
