The Bharatiya Janta Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday slammed the government’s decision to allow a delegation of Members of European Union Parliament to visit Kashmir. He also demanded the cancellation of the delegation’s visit, describing the move as ‘perversion’ of the country’s policy.
Swami in a tweet said, “I am surprised that the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has arranged for European Union MPs, in their private capacity (not EU’s official delegation), to visit Kashmir. This is a perversion of our national policy. I urge the government to cancel this visit because it’s immoral.”
I am surprised that the MEA has arranged for European Union MPs, in their private capacity [Not EU’s official delegation],to visit Kashmir area of J&K. This is a perversion of our national policy. I urge the Government cancel this visit because it is immoral.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) October 28, 2019
This is the first visit by any foreign delegation to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 from the Constitution on August 5, that gave special status to the state. The state has been further divided into two Union Territories.
The delegation of the European Parliamentarians will be travelling to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
The delegation met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday who expressed that the visit of the delegation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir will give a better understanding to them of the region and a clear view of the government’s development and priorities there.
“Their visit to J-K should give the delegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region, apart from giving a clear view of development and governance priorities of the region,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
Read: EU delegation’s Kashmir visit ‘should give clear view of governance priorities’: PM Modi
PM Modi also drew the delegation’s attention, in a veiled manner, towards Pakistan sponsored terrorism that is hurting Jammu and Kashmir. He said that urgent action is needed against those who are supporting terrorism and using the menace as a state policy.
He underlined the need for zero tolerance against terrorism.