Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday reached the Srinagar airport from where he was asked to return to Delhi. Sinha arrived at the Srinagar Airport along with Air Marshal Kapil Kak (retired) and social activist Sushoba Bhave this afternoon.

Surprised on seeing Sinha de-boarding a flight from Delhi, airport officials and the police immediately escorted him to the VIP lounge, as there was no information about whether to allow him to enter the city. Sinha was later asked to return.

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Restrictions have been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, when the centre announced its decisions to end special status to the state. The state was also bifurcated into two union territories.

Sinha argued with the officials and showed him the order that allowed him to enter the city, the officials said. He was reluctant to board a return flight and conveyed to the state officials that he would stay put at the airport until he was allowed to enter the city, the officials said. State administration and police officials finally managed to persuade his accompanying team members to return. Later, Sinha boarded the last flight to Delhi.

Earlier a delegation of Opposition leaders led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also asked to return from the Srinagar airport on August 24. The MP from Wayanad had tweeted a video where he could be seen talking to the administration.

It’s been 20 days since the people of Jammu & Kashmir had their freedom & civil liberties curtailed. Leaders of the Opposition & the Press got a taste of the draconian administration & brute force unleashed on the people of J&K when we tried to visit Srinagar yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PLwakJM5W5

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 25, 2019

Gandhi called it a “draconian administration and brute force unleashed on the people of J&K.”

The Jammu and Kashmir administration also slapped Public Security Act against senior leader of the state Farooq Abdullah on September 15 and declared his Srinagar house a subsidiary jail.

Many local leaders have been kept under house arrest including former chief ministers since the Centre abrogated Article 370.