EU parliament and embassies were unaware of the visit
FROM CHRISTINA PALMER
NEW DELHI: Nearly 30 Members of the European Parliament, drawn mainly from extreme right-wing parties, was the first international delegation to visit Indian occupied Kashmir since New Dehli imposed a security clampdown in August to back the ending of the region’s autonomy.
While the Indian government backs the visit, the European parliament and European Union hierarchy have not been involved, raising some diplomatic doubts. Several European embassies in New Delhi were unaware of the visit until Monday, Media reported.
“The delegation of MEPs is not on an official visit in India and came here at the invitation of a non-government group,” said an EU official in India, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The group, dominated by right-wing deputies from Poland, France and Britain, met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Thierry Mariani, a Euro MP for France’s far-right National Rally, told AFP “we are going to see the situation in Kashmir, at least what they want to show us”.
Fearing unrest after the revocation of Article 370, the government cut telephone and internet lines and imposed a near curfew in many parts after the decades-old autonomy was ended. The measures were recently eased, with telephone lines restored, but the population still has no internet.
Meanwhile, A senior UK politician claimed on Tuesday that the Indian government withdrew with little explanation its invitation to him to be part of an EU delegation currently on a visit to Kashmir after he demanded to speak with local people without a police escort.
A delegation of 23 MPs from the European Union reached Srinagar on Tuesday for a two-day visit during which they will be briefed on the situation by government officials and also meet a cross-section of local people. The team originally comprised 27 parliamentarians, mostly from extreme right or right wing parties, but four did not travel to Kashmir and have reportedly returned to their respective countries, officials said. Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Chris Davies said the decision showed the Indian government was trying to hide the “reality of its actions” and blocking absolute freedom of the press.
“I am not prepared to take part in a PR stunt for the Modi government and pretend that all is well. It is very clear that democratic principles are being subverted in Kashmir, and the world needs to start taking notice,” said Davies, whose invite for the visit between October 27 and 30 was reportedly rescinded. The members of the European Parliament met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi during which he expressed hope that they have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country, including to Jammu and Kashmir.
