Six American lawmakers have written to the Indian Ambassador to US Harsh Vardhan Shringla, seeking free access to foreign journalists and Congressmen to Kashmir. The lawmakers claimed that the situation in Kashmir is different from the one being told by their constituents.
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells had said, “The role of some of the international reporters have been particularly important, but journalists continue to face challenges in access while reporting due to the security restrictions.”
“We believe true transparency can only be achieved when journalists and Members of Congress are allowed free access to the region. We encourage India to open Jammu and Kashmir to both domestic and foreign journalists, and other international visitors, in the interest of open media and increased communication,” the Congressmen said in the letter.
In the letter dated October 24, the lawmakers, David N Cicilline, Dina Titus, Chrissy Houlahan, Andy Levin, James P McGovern and Susan Wild, said that there questions were a follow up to the briefing given to them by Shringla on October 16 about the situation in Kashmir.
“As was discussed during the meeting, many of our constituents have painted a much different picture of the situation than what you shared with us. They have raised concerns about the repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, as well as suspended internet and telecommunications access, arrests of local politicians and activists, and the imposition of a curfew,” the Congressmen said.
“Has 100 per cent of landline service been restored inside Jammu and Kashmir, or are there any remaining outages? When will all mobile phone service be restored, including for those who use prepaid mobile phones? When will full internet access be restored (not just access at kiosks)?” they asked.
The letter also asked about the number of people detained under the Public Safety Act or other legal provisions since August 5 and asked Shringla to be as specific as possible.
“Of those, how many are minors? What is the standard judicial procedure for someone detained under the Public Safety Act?” they asked.
“What is the status of the curfews that have been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir? What are the government”s plans to allow residents to return to uninhibited movement? When can we expect that?” the congressmen asked Shringla.
In the letter, the Congressmen also asked the Indian Ambassador to lay out the reasons why the foreign journalists are still not allowed inside the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Will the Indian Government welcome visiting members of the United States Congress or other foreign officials who wish to visit Jammu and Kashmir?” the lawmakers asked.
On August 5, the Indian government had abrogated Article 370 from Kashmir that gave special status to the state. The state was further bifurcated into two Union Territories.
(With inputs from PTI)