Diplomatic Blunder: Congress Leader Surjewala On EU Delegation Kashmir Visit

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday slammed Modi government over visit of European Union MPs to Jammu and Kashmir. Terming the move as diplomatic blunder, Surjewala said, "Over last three days, India witnessed an immature, ill-advised and ill-conceived PR exercise of BJP Government organized by an ‘International Business Broker’, in which 27 members of European Parliament were brought to India by a non-descript think tank with questionable credentials to meet with Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visit Kashmir and hold press briefing. Of course, only 23 went to Kashmir on a BJP Government facilitated trip as four members of the delegation returned back from Delhi itself."

Calling Kashmir an internal issue, Surjewala said, “India’s time tested policy over last 72 years is that Kashmir is our internal issue and we will accept no interference or third party mediation of any nature from any government or group of people or organisation or any individual. Modi Government has committed the gravest sin of reversing this policy over last three days.”

Surjewala said that PM Modi should come forward and answer these issues of challenging India’s sovereignty, National security and insult of India’s Parliament.

On Monday, the members of the European Parliament met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. While welcoming the MPs to India, he “expressed the hope that they have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country, including to Jammu and Kashmir”.

“Their visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give the delegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, apart from giving them a clear view of the development and goverment priorities of the region,” a PMO statement said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who hosted a lunch for the visitors, also gave them an overview of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

A few weeks ago, a senator of the United States was denied permission to visit Kashmir.

A joint delegation of opposition MPs, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, undertaking a visit to Kashmir about two months ago, was not allowed to go beyond the Srinagar airport after their arrival from Delhi and were sent back to the national capital.